State v. Novaock

SABERS, Justice.

Kurt Novaock (Novaock) appeals his conviction of murder in the first-degree while engaged in the felony of robbery under SDCL 22-16-4.

Facts

Jerry Plihal’s body was discovered in his Delmont, South Dakota residence on the afternoon of June 16, 1985. The subsequent investigation revealed that he died as a result of multiple stab wounds inflicted sometime between the evening of June 13 and June 15, 1985. Novaock and Lewis Ashker were indicted on murder charges by a Douglas County Grand Jury on December 3, 1985. Ashker was tried and convicted of premeditated murder on June 10,1986.…