State v. Tikka

The appeals presented, though filed separately, will be consolidated for the purposes of this opinion. The defendants were tried together, and the issues presented for review are similar to a great extent. Clyde Tikka, Marvin Bonga and Mark Costen were all residents of the Washington State Reformatory at Monroe. On July 26, 1970, Mark Costen was stabbed to death during an exercise period at the reformatory. The defendants, Bonga and Tikka, were charged with murder in the first degree.

One witness testified that he had observed the defendant, Tikka, walk up behind the victim, grab him, hold his…