The Kansas Supreme Court has reversed the murder convictions of a Salina man who was convicted of killing two people, one during a burglary and another after an argument.
Back in December of 2010 a Saline County jury convicted Willie Smith-Parker of first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder.
The appeal was from the two prosecutions that were joined for a single jury trial.
The first case arose from a burglary/homicide on the morning of June 13, 2009, and the second arose from a fatal shooting on the morning of June 19, 2009. Smith-Parker was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in the death of Alfred Mack, second-degree intentional murder in the later death of Justin Letourneau, theft, and aggravated assault. The jury acquitted Smith-Parker of two aggravated burglary counts.
Smith-Parker raised 10 issues in the appeal. the Supreme Court found that 4 had merit. Among them were how jurors were instructed, and how a juror was replaced with an alternative after deliberations had already started.
