Opinion ID: 2188508
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Attempted Escape

Text: Williams alleges that the trial court abused its discretion by overruling his objection to evidence regarding Williams' attempt to escape from the St. Louis City workhouse. The state's evidence showed that Williams attempted to escape approximately three weeks after he had been indicted on multiple charges, including the first-degree murder of Felicia Gayle. The evidence also showed that on the day of the attempted escape, Williams had been sentenced to twenty years in prison on separate charges. During the escape, Williams assaulted a guard with a metal bar. The state introduced testimony describing Williams' assault and the injuries he inflicted on the guard. Williams argues that the escape evidence should have been excluded because it was inadmissible evidence of uncharged crimes. He also argues that because he was facing other charges at the time, the fact that he attempted to escape does not show any consciousness of guilt regarding Gayle's murder. Evidence of escape is admissible as bearing on defendant's consciousness of guilt as to pending charges. State v. Hughes, 596 S.W.2d 723, 729 (Mo. banc 1980); State v. Middleton, 998 S.W.2d 520, 528 (Mo. banc 1999). Such evidence is admissible even though the escape attempt may constitute a separate uncharged crime. State v. Holt, 465 S.W.2d 602, 607 (Mo.1971). Escape evidence is also admissible when the defendant is being held on multiple charges at the time of the escape. Id. The existence of circumstances indicating the escape was not motivated by consciousness of guilt may be considered by the jury to reduce the weight of the escape evidence, but it does not render the escape evidence inadmissible. Hughes, 596 S.W.2d at 729. Whether the escape was motivated by a consciousness of guilt or another reason is a question for the jury. State v. Thompson, 985 S.W.2d 779, 789 (Mo. banc 1999).