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LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Nevada Supreme Court is scheduling oral arguments April 5 on an appeal by a once-prominent Las Vegas doctor serving 18 years to life in prison for the largest hepatitis C outbreak in state history.
Attorneys for Dipak Desai (DEE'-pahk deh-SEYE') argue he didn't get a fair trial before being convicted in July 2013 of second-degree murder and 26 other charges including neglect of patients and insurance fraud.
The lawyers argue that Desai was demonized by prejudicial pretrial publicity, and couldn't assist in his defense after suffering several strokes about the same time the 2007 hepatitis outbreak became public.
Desai is now 66. He's also serving a federal court sentence of almost six years for health care fraud and conspiracy, and is on the hook for $2.2 million in restitution.
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