State v. Rocha

WEIER, Presiding Judge.

Defendant Mary Lou Rocha was convicted of first degree murder (§ 559.010, RSMo 1969, V.A.M.S.) for the murder of her husband and sentenced to life imprisonment. Defendant has appealed her conviction.

Evidence revealed the following: On the morning of May 23, 1973 Juan Rocha, defendant’s husband, was found dead on the front porch of his home in the City of St. Louis. A pool of dried blood was found beneath the body. An autopsy revealed that death was caused by a shotgun wound to the lung and pulmonary artery. No. 6 shot were removed from the body.

The defendant was…