State v. Renfro

Defendant Rudolph William Renfro was convicted by a King County jury of the first degree murder of a prostitute. On appeal, he challenges three evidentiary rulings and contends that the State failed to preserve evidence that may have been favorable to him. We find no error and affirm the conviction.

The scenario for this homicide began with the discovery of the victim's body in a hotel room. Strangulation was the cause of death. Sperm found in her vagina indicated that she had intercourse shortly before her death. In its investigation, the State did not attempt to identify the sperm type.…