State Of Washington v. Zaida Cardenas-flores

Maxa, A.C.J.

¶52 (concurring) — I concur in the result of this case. I write separately because I disagree with the lead opinion’s conclusion that the corpus delicti issue involves only a rule of evidence that cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. I believe that whether the State has established the corpus delicti of a crime through evidence independent of a defendant’s statements involves sufficiency of the evidence necessary to convict that can be raised for the first time on appeal under RAP 2.5(a)(2).

¶53 In order to convict a defendant of a crime, the State has the burden of…