State v. Pope

ELLIS, Judge.

Rubey Ellen Pope was charged by information, filed on February 18, 1998, with second degree murder, § 565.021.1, 1 and armed criminal action, § 571.015, after the death of her husband, William J. (“Billy Joe”) Pope.' The case proceeded to trial before a jury on August 24, 1998. The trial ended on August 25, 1998, when the court declared a mistrial due to improper comments made by the prosecutor. A second trial commenced on January 25, 1999, and the jury convicted Ms. Pope of involuntary manslaughter, § 565.024, and armed criminal action, § 571.015. Ms. Pope was sentenced,…