State of Minnesota v. Demetrius Antonio Wynne

Syllabus

In this direct appeal from a second-degree murder conviction following a jury trial and postconviction proceedings, appellant challenges his conviction and the postconviction court's denial of his petition without an evidentiary hearing. Appellant argues that the district court erroneously admitted excessive spark-of-life evidence and abused its discretion by denying appellant's motions for a mistrial and his motion for judgment of acquittal, or a new trial. Appellant also contends that the postconviction court erred by summarily denying his petition, maintaining that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to present evidence of alternative perpetrators. We affirm.