In this Aug. 6, 2019, photo, Steven Downs is led into a courtroom for arraignment in Anchorage.
Downs was convicted at trial by a jury in Fairbanks of the 1993 dormitory murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point.to a total of 75 years in prison for two crimes: 67 years for murder and eight years for sexual assault.Through his lead trial attorney, James Howaniec of Lewiston, Downs cited the points of his appeals.
The trial judge should have excluded from trial evidence of firearms, knives and other weapons, Downs’ claimed. Downs’ state and federal constitutional due process rights were violated by the trial judge who denied a joint motion by the defense and prosecutors to continue to trial to a later date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which created “severely compromised circumstances,” Downs claimed.
Sophie Sergie had to wait a long time for Justice. I hope he stays right where he belongs--prison.