People v. Knippenberg

Following a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Christian County, defendant John Knippenberg was convicted of murder and sentenced to a term of 30 to 60 years imprisonment. Defendant appeals from his conviction alleging that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a change of venue and change of judge; that it abused its discretion in refusing to sequester the jury; that defendant was denied a fair trial as a result of prejudicial comments made by an excused juror in the presence of two panel members, and as a result of unauthorized communications between jurors and a third party; that…