Jefferson City murder suspect again seeks new judge, alleging bias
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Jefferson City man accused of stabbing his child's mother to death is asking for a new judge, claiming the man now presiding over his case is biased against him.
James Christopher Egan, an attorney for Sergio Sayles, filed motions Wednesday asking Judge Jon Beetem to be replaced. Egan cites several facts in his filing, including that Beetem presided over a fact-finding court that decided Sayles was a killer. The inquiry was related to the placement of Sayles' child.
"Such a finding by this court ... establishes that it has prejudged the facts of this case creating, at the very least, the appearance of impropriety," Egan wrote on Sayles' behalf.
The motion notes that Sayles has pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence.
Sayles, 36, of Jefferson City, was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, evidence tampering, first-degree harassment and first-degree stalking in the death of Jasmine King. Cole County’s top prosecutor in April filed an intent to seek the death penalty.
He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond.
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 April, according to a probable cause statement. Sayles gave inconsistent stories about where he was and he denied killing King, according to the statement.
Sayles and King have a toddler child together.
Egan's filing also alleges the court showed bias in custody proceedings for Sayles' child, awarding custody to King's parents, who are set to testify against Sayles, over Sayles' mother.
It's not clear when Judge Beetem will make his decision. After Cotton Walker did so in October, he would be the second judge to remove himself from the case.
