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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Utah Supreme Court has unanimously affirmed a state court decision to reject a death row inmate's post-conviction appeal.
Troy Michael Kell claimed that errors during his prosecution and subsequent sentencing violated his right to a fair trial. He also said his lawyers provided ineffective assistance during his initial post-conviction appeal, which was dismissed by a 6th District judge.
Utah justices on Friday said the 6th District Court was correct when it denied Kell's petition.
St. George-based defense attorney Aric Cramer says Kell will now seek an appeal of his conviction in the federal court system.
Kell was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1994 stabbing death of Lonnie Blackmon while both men were incarcerated at the Central Utah Correction Facility in Gunnison.
The 32-year-old Blackmon was stabbed 67 times with a handmade knife during an assault, which was recorded by prison video tapes.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
