Mississippi Supreme Court declines to hear appeal of Keller in Harrison County murder

Jason Lee Keller (MDOC photo)
Jason Lee Keller (MDOC photo)
Jason Lee Keller (MDOC photo)

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — The Mississippi Supreme Court has declined to take a second look at an appeal from Jason Lee Keller, who was sentenced to death for the 2007 fatal shooting and robbery of a Harrison County convenience store owner.

The Supreme Court upheld Keller’s conviction in February. On Thursday, it denied Keller’s petition to look at his appeal again.

Keller was convicted in 2009 for the death of 41-year-old Hat Nguyen, who was killed at the convenience store she owned.

On appeal, Keller argued statements he gave police while being treated in the hospital for a gunshot wound were inadmissible. Two were thrown out at his trial; the third was allowed as evidence.

A majority of the Supreme Court ruled the third statement was voluntarily given to authorities.