State v. Johnson

HALL, Chief Justice:

Defendant was convicted of first degree murder in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-202 (Supp.1988) and was sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, defendant challenges the admissibility of evidence of criminal conspiracy, the denial of his motion to dismiss the aggravating circumstance of pecuniary gain, the propriety of the instructions to the jury, the sufficiency of the evidence to convict, and the propriety of a statement made by the prosecutor in closing argument to the jury.

The body of the victim, Piti Srisa-Ad, was found in Weber County on May 16, 1986. Police…