Cellphone location testimony will not be part of Jefferson City murder trial
Jazsmin Halliburton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Jefferson City Police Department detective will not be allowed to testify at a murder trial about what the suspect’s cellphone said about his whereabouts the day of the crime.
The defense for Sergio Sayles, 39, has filed the motion to exclude the detective’s testimony. A hearing was held on Tuesday morning.
Sayles was charged in 2023 with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence, misdemeanor second-degree stalking and misdemeanor second-degree harassment. Sayles is accused of killing Jasmine King in April 2023. Police found King dead from stab wounds to her head, face, neck, torso and back in her home in the 300 block of West Ashley Street in Jefferson City.
Prosecutors originally sought the death penalty, but in April, Sayles waived his right to a jury trial in exchange for the state dropping the death penalty.
According to online court records, Sayles’ defense lawyer filed multiple motions in that same month:
Motion to suppress statements Sayles made during interrogations after he requested an attorney.
Motion to exclude cellphone testimony.
Motion to dismiss the indictment against Sayles based on prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury proceedings.
Motion to dismiss and for other sanctions for destroying Sayles’ car.
Motion for disclosure of plea agreement and/or inducements to prosecution witnesses.
The exclusion of cellphone testimony was sustained; the state will call another witness to replace what was previously going to be a Jefferson City Police Department detective’s testimony regarding cell location.
Arguments for the other motions were ongoing Tuesday morning.
A bench trial is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 3 in the Boone County Courthouse in front of Judge Brouck Jacobs.