State v. James

The opinion of the court was delivered by Beier, J.:

This is defendant Grover D. James' direct appeal of his convictions for first-degree premeditated murder of Leon McClennon and criminal possession of a firearm.

James challenges the district judge's refusal to give certain lesser included homicide instructions and failure to tell the jury to consider certain homicide offenses simultaneously. He also challenges the admission of autopsy photographs into evidence, alleges reversible prosecutorial error, and asserts he was deprived of his constitutional right to be present at all critical stages…