State of Missouri, Respondent v. Carmen L. Deck, Appellant

Summary

The court affirmed Deck’s convictions and sentences, including two death sentences. It held that the trial court properly denied the change-of-venue motion, admitted the seized evidence and statements, rejected the gender-based and for-cause jury challenges, and allowed the challenged penalty-phase evidence and arguments. The court also found no plain error in the mitigating-circumstance instructions, refusal to define “mitigating,” or reasonable-doubt instruction, and independently determined that the death sentences were supported and proportionate.