State v. Smitherman

CADY, Justice.

In this ease we must determine if the defendant’s constitutional rights to conflict-free counsel were violated. In addition, we must determine whether there was sufficient evidence to convict the defendant of first-degree murder. Finding no constitutional violation or problem pertaining to the sufficiency of the evidence, we affirm the defendant’s conviction.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

In 1990 law enforcement officers found Richard Tasler’s skeletal remains buried on Joel Smitherman’s property. As a result, and after a long investigation, the State finally charged…