Opinion ID: 2035760
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: lula mae sykes

Text: The State next explained that it exercised a peremptory challenge against Sykes for two reasons: (1) she had two brothers who were murdered; and (2) she gave a less than positive answer when asked if she could follow the law. The State feared that she might be reluctant to consider the imposition of the death penalty since it was a more severe punishment than that received by her brothers' murderers. The record reveals that only one brother was murdered while the other was killed by lightening. Nevertheless, the trial court found the combination of these factors to be a legitimate and neutral reason for exercising a peremptory challenge against this juror. Although defendant claims that the State's explanation was pretextual, he offers no evidence or argument in support of that claim. The trial court was in the best position to evaluate the demeanor of this venireperson and the State's explanation for excluding her. There is no basis for this court to find that the trial court erred in accepting the State's reasons for excluding Sykes.