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JCPAO Press Releases

Posted on: October 18, 2018

Jackson County judge declines to vacate murder conviction after finding prosecutors acted properly

For Immediate Release

Oct. 18, 2018

A Jackson County judge has ruled Jackson County prosecutors did not mislead or hide key evidence from defense attorneys, contrary to what a murder defendant alleged in a motion to vacate his conviction.

In a ruling released today in the murder case of Sylvester Roy Sisco II, the judge found no reason to vacate his conviction in a 2006 shooting that left one man dead and another injured. The judge found the evidence did not support defendant’s claim that prosecutors failed to provide a video to his attorneys in a viewable format.

“Trial counsel knew the video existed,” the judge wrote. “He had copies of all the clips. He had the players. If he could not play the videos, he could have availed himself to the Court to seek relief.”

The judge also noted that prosecutors made special efforts to provide and play the video for defense counsel.

In addition, the judge ruled evidence did not support defense allegations that a police crime lab official gave false testimony or that prosecutors otherwise failed to meet their ethical duties in other ways.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said that prosecutor’s obligations in criminal cases includes evaluating a defendant’s allegations that a prosecutor failed to uphold his or her ethical obligations.

“We should examine all allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Those are very serious allegations,” Baker said. “But a time comes for defendants and their attorneys who make such allegations to prove those claims. As we asserted earlier, these allegations had zero merit. Now the court agrees.”

Baker reminded that such allegations often result in victim's family members feeling that they must return to court for their lost loved ones, as occurred in this case.

For more information, contact:

Michael Mansur

Director of Communication

Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office

Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor

Work   : (816) 881-3812

Mobile: (816) 674-3954

mmansur@jacksongov.org

http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.



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