State v. Batiste

Velma Batiste appeals her first degree murder conviction resulting from the strangulation death of Patty Wolzen in. Hastings, Nebraska. She was sentenced to life imprisonment. We affirm the defendant’s conviction and sentence.

In her appeal to this court, Batiste’s seven assignments of error may be summarized as follows: The trial court erred in failing to (1) grant her a speedy trial, (2) find there was insufficient evidence to convict her, (3) permit the defendant to reopen her case before the close of the trial, and (4) grant a new trial based on newly discovered evidence.

On Sunday morning,…