STATE OF MISSOURI, Plaintiff-Respondent v. JAMES CARL DUKE III

James C. Duke (“Defendant”) appeals from his convictions after a bench trial for first-degree murder and armed criminal action. See §§ 565.020, 571.015, RSMo (2000). Defendant presents three points on appeal: (1) the trial court clearly erred in admitting Defendant’s confession into evidence; (2) the trial court abused its discretion in allowing a detective to testify he found no evidence of self-defense; and (3) the trial court plainly erred in permitting the prosecutor to discuss case law during closing argument. These arguments are without merit, and we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Fac…