State v. Cookus

HAYS, Justice.

Leroy Cookus, the appellant, was charged and convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole until 25 years are served. From that conviction and sentence he appeals. This court has jurisdiction of the appeal pursuant to the Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 5, art. 2, § 24, and A.R.S. § 13-1711 and § 12-120.21(A)(1).

On February 23, 1975, Robert Henry was taken to a desert area on the north side of Phoenix, beaten, robbed and killed. The facts leading up to his murder came out principally through the testimony of an accomplice,…