People v. Emerson

Defendant was convicted by a jury of first-degree felony murder, MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548. The victim died of head injuries. Defendant was sentenced to life in prison. He appeals from his conviction, and we affirm.

The issues on appeal involve the corpus delicti of felony murder, the waiver of trial by jury, the denial of a challenge to a juror, and the effective assistance of counsel.

In his first issue, defendant claims that because his police statement provided the only evidence of the felony underlying the felony-murder charge, namely criminal sexual conduct, the statement should not have…