Could things have gone differently for Andrew Luster if he hadn’t voluntarily absented himself in the middle of his trial? If nothing else getting a sentence that allowed for parole some day instead of leaving prison in a box? Granted there were a lot of bad facts in his case, but jumping bond probably hurt his defense’s efforts, most definately looked terrible to the jury, and wound up being ruled as a forfeit of his right to appeal.
It clearly didn’t help him. I mean, it’s likely he still would have been convicted even if he didn’t flee, but like you said, fleeing looked bad to the jury and forfeited his right to appeal.