Vena v. State

The primary focus in this appeal, taken by Joseph J. Vena (Vena) from his convictions of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, in violation of WYO. STAT. § 6-1-303 (1988), and first degree murder, in violation of WYO. STAT. § 6-2-101 (Supp. 1994), is upon the voluntariness of statements given to law enforcement officers in which Vena admitted his involvement in the charged crimes. Vena asserts that the trial court erred in its pretrial ruling that the statements were voluntary, and also in improperly instructing the jury on the issue of voluntariness of the statements. Additional assertions of error in Venas brief and argument include the denial of access to the psychiatric evaluation of a co-defendant; the failure of the trial court to apply the doctrine of merger to the sentences for accessory to first degree murder and conspiracy to commit that murder; the denial of a motion for a mistrial after violation of an order in limine entered by the trial court; and the failure to admit the entirety of Venas written and recorded confession. Our study of this record and application of pertinent legal rules reveals that no reversible error was committed at Venas trial. The Judgment and Sentence entered in the trial court is affirmed.