The Kansas Supreme Court today affirmed two Wyandotte County convictions in murder cases.

   In the first case, the court upheld a Wyandotte County defendant's convictions of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm arising from a double shooting at a Kansas City, Kan., apartment complex. Katreal M. Harris had appealed his conviction.

   The Supreme Court rejected his contentions of error in jury instructions and other areas. The decision is online at http://www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/opinions/SupCt/2012/20120203/101613.pdf.

   In the second case, Jamaal Summers' conviction was affirmed for first-degree murder and a hard-25 life sentence. The court, however, vacated a provision for lifetime post-release supervision.

   The Supreme Court said that a sentencing court has no authority to order a term of post-release supervision for an inmate who has received an off-grid indeterminate life sentence because the inmate can only leave prison if the successor to the Kansas Parole Board grants parole after the defendant completes the minimum 25 years.

   The case is online at http://www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/opinions/SupCt/2012/20120203/101902.pdf.