GRETNA, Louisiana (AP) — The man convicted of killing and dismembering a Bourbon Street dancer in 2012 has been denied a new trial.
Tuesday’s ruling came in the case of Terry Speaks, who was convicted in June of second-degree murder in the death of Jaren Lockhart.
NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports that Speaks’ attorney, John Benz, argued that the verdict would likely have been different if jurors had heard from federal inmate Elijah Sanford.
Sanford alleged two of his fellow inmates lied when they testified that Speaks admitted to killing Lockhart.
State District Judge Stephen Grefer in Gretna ruled that the murder case hadn’t relied solely on the testimony of the two inmates.
Speaks was sentenced to life in prison. His former girlfriend, Margaret Sanchez, is awaiting trial in the case.
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