Appeals Court Reinstates SD Homicide Conviction

A federal appeals court has reinstated a vehicular homicide conviction for a South Dakota man.

 

 

 

 

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A federal appeals court has reinstated a vehicular homicide conviction for a South Dakota man.

Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Monday that the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the conviction for Oakley Engesser.

Engesser of Belle Fourche had been serving a 25-year sentence in prison for a July 2000 traffic crash on Interstate 90 that killed one person and injured two others. But a district court judge in October concluded that Engesser's attorney was ineffective, and Engesser was released from prison.

The state has appealed the ruling and sought to keep Engesser in prison.

Jackley says the decision by the federal appeals court "gives important recognition to the deference that is owed to jury verdicts and state court decisions.''

(KFGO file photo)

 

AP

   

© 2012 KFGO-AM  |  1020 S. 25th Street Fargo, ND 58103