GUILTY AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*

[Niner]

Hmmm... one line says "Hearing reset" and then the one above says Jury trial. I guess we will find out Monday if this is still "on".

Thank you @PayrollNerd for that info.

 

[LoisLane47]

Will this trial be streamed anywhere?

 

[Jbetty567]

Jan 7 2022
Auburn man’s murder trial in Alaska ‘cold case’ scheduled next week - Lewiston Sun Journal
''The trial of an Auburn man charged in the sexual assault and murder of an Alaskan woman 28 years ago is expected to get underway Monday with jury selection in Fairbanks.''


Steven Downs appears in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn in March 2019 for an extradition hearing. His trial in the 1993 murder of an Alaskan woman is scheduled to begin next week. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal file


Steven H. Downs, 47, is charged in the April 25, 1993, slaying of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point, Alaska.

Downs had been a student at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks at the time and lived in the dorm where Sergie’s body was found. Investigators said she had been visiting a friend at that dorm when her body was discovered.

Investigators said Sergie was shot in the back of the head with a .22-caliber gun, stabbed in the cheek and eye, struck with a blunt instrument, gagged with a ligature and shocked with a stun gun.''

I am guessing that the March date on the docket was a mistake? Thank you for posting this - glad I checked in here! Still hoping they’re going ahead with the live stream!

 

[Jbetty567]

Will this trial be streamed anywhere?

The courthouse told me last week that they are planning on live streaming it. If you go to the Alaska courts website you can click on YouTube hearings and then search by the Judge’s name (Thomas Temple).

 

[Niner]

Monday, January 10th:
*Trial set to begin (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial set to begin on 1/10/22. (will last about 7 weeks).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/3/22 reference post #167 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/6/21 Update: Evidentiary hearings. Judge Thomas Temple is hearing motions on 1/3 & 1/6/22. Defense attorney James Howaniec has filed 11 motions in the case. Attorneys wrapped up a week of evidentiary hearings in the murder case against Downs. On the final day of hearings regarding motions filed by the defense, defense attorney Jim Howaniac called Jim McCann to the stand to testify on his investigation into the murder. McCann was the lead investigator for the Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks when Sergie was found murdered in a bathtub at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. McCann, who according to his testimony has investigated at least 78 murders in the state, said that the Sergie murder was the only one he never got a conviction in & that it haunts him to this day. Prosecutor Jenna Gruenstine asked McCann during her time about interviews with Moto. McCann said he does not remember Moto & told the court that if he’d thought that Moto was in the bathroom on the night of the murder, or if he’d had blood on his clothing when he was contacted less than 24 hours after the murder, Moto would have been questioned far more than he was & most likely would be sitting in a yellow jump suit instead of Downs. After McCann finished being questioned, the prosecution called Jennifer Foster, a forensic scientist for the Alaska Crime Lab to the stand to begin questioning her about DNA collection. The prosecution was unable to finish their questions before the hearing finished. The parties to the case were unable to finish litigating the motions and have scheduled additional hearings for mid-March. We will continue our coverage as it proceeds. Downs is charged with murder in the first degree & sexual assault in the first degree. If his case is not dismissed, he is scheduled for trial in Fairbanks on March 8. But from the looks of the hearings, the trial will probably be rescheduled. The trial is set to begin on 1/10/22.
1/5/22: Defendant's witness list. 1/6/22: Order re: Jury instructions.

 

[dotr]

Murder trial in Fairbanks cold case starts Monday - Alaska Public Media

Sophie Sergie (Photo courtesy of Alaska State Troopers)
''The judge has decided to allow the defense to present evidence against three other men. That is part of an effort by Downs’ defense to raise reasonable doubt about their client’s guilt.''

 

[PayrollNerd]

4FA-19-00504CR
State of Alaska vs. Downs, Steven Harris TT


View attachment 329210

View attachment 329211

https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...yl45OUgoWHqehz5*HBzgt9j0SWEqBO6tGbHkoGDhT2fFg

Here’s a clip with the trial continuing tomorrow. The Docket tab doesn’t have any updates.

https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...AX1fO0T**z8fsYLm07h74P1m8rr2Haj6DRiGO0vRf0usQ

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, January 11th:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22. (will last about 7 weeks).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 reference post #186 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/10/22 Monday, Trial Day 1: Jury selection begins. No other info available. Trial continues on 1/11/22.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Maine man on trial for murder in Alaska in 1993, when he was a college freshman

 

[PayrollNerd]

Maine man on trial for murder in Alaska in 1993, when he was a college freshman

I sure hope he doesn't get off, no matter how much they think someone else did it, DNA doesn't lie.

Snip:
Downs’ defense attorney, Jim Howaniec, said in an interview before jury selection there's plenty of reasonable doubt, and Downs has an alibi.

"Steven was with his girlfriend that night. He had a girlfriend that he was very steady with at the time, and she's going to be a witness in this case," Howaniec said.

Prosecutors accuse downs of raping Sergie, stabbing her in the face and shooting her in the head with a 22-caliber gun.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, January 12th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22. (will last about 4 to 7 weeks).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 reference post #186 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/10/22 Monday, Trial Day 1: Jury selection begins. Jury selection continues on 1/11/22.
1/11/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 2: No info available. Trial continues on 1/12/22.

 

[PayrollNerd]

4FA-19-00504CR
State of Alaska vs. Downs, Steven Harris TT

The Docket has more entries listed for Jan 7th all duplicates.


https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...6QWm6pjYjKfincybKTPiw5Gatva1VwpdCFa6rw1MR0Pw#

 

[Jbetty567]

Anyone else watching? This is absolutely fascinating. Did the prosecutor (in the rush at the end) say that Shirley identified SD as the man she saw in the hallway on her way out of the dorm building that night??
Seems like the state is emphasizing that Sophie never stood up after she was raped... they don't seem to have much else

 

[lisette]

Where are you watching?

 

[Jbetty567]

Where are you watching?

Alaska courts, go to Youtube hearings, and search for the courtroom of Judge Thomas Temple

Edited to add courtroom number 503

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 12, 2022
Trial begins for Maine man accused of 1993 murder in Alaska | WGME
[...]

Downs says he's innocent, but during opening arguments Wednesday, prosecutors put the blame squarely on him, saying DNA found inside Sergie matches Downs.

[...]

Investigators say Sergie was shot in the back of the head, stabbed in the cheek and eye, hit with a blunt instrument, gagged and shocked with a stun gun.

Prosecutors say Downs was a student at the college and had been seen in the same dorm around the time Sergie’s body was found.

(First time I've heard of this case - just ran across this article. Horrific. )

 

[PayrollNerd]

A little more added to the Events & Docket.

4FA-19-00504CR
State of Alaska vs. Downs, Steven Harris

https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...hRo8G2dn39KlK6-1V6d9ML2ANCupMVEGVH1rBGuwkItMw

 

[Niner]

Thursday, January 13th
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22. (will last about 4 to 7 weeks).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 reference post #186 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/10/22 Monday, Trial Day 1: Jury selection begins. Jury selection continues on 1/11/22.
1/11/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 2: State's proposed Jury instructions filed by Jenna L. Gruenstein representing the State of Alaska. Jury has been selected. No other info available. Trial begins with opening statements on 1/12/22.
1/12/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 3: Opening statements by Alaska Assistant Attorney General John Darnall & defense attorney Jim Howaniec. Investigators say Sergie was shot in the back of the head, stabbed in the cheek and eye, hit with a blunt instrument, gagged & shocked with a stun gun. State witnesses: Shirley Akelkok, friend of Sophie's. No other info available. Trial continues on 1/13/22.

 

[Niner]

Can anyone here access this article? It needs a subscription....

Murder trial of Auburn man begins in Alaska with testimony from victim’s friend

just wondering if there might be any witnesses listed. TIA!

 

[Niner]

Friday, January 14th:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22. (will last about 4 to 7 weeks).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 1/11 (Day 1-2) reference post #199 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/12/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 3: Opening statements by Alaska Assistant Attorney Jenna Gruenstien & defense attorney Jim Howaniec. Investigators say Sergie was shot in the back of the head, stabbed in the cheek and eye, hit with a blunt instrument, gagged & shocked with a stun gun. State witnesses: Shirley Akelkok, friend of Sophie's. No other info available. Trial continues on 1/13/22.
1/13/22 Thursday, Trail Day 4: No info available. Trial continues on 1/14/22.