COQUILLE, Ore. (AP) — Lawyers for an Oregon man convicted of manslaughter in the 2000 death of his teenaged girlfriend are seeking a new trial.
Robert and Shaun McCrea filed a 32-page motion Tuesday in Coos County Circuit Court on behalf of Nicholas McGuffin, sentenced Aug. 1 to 10 years in prison in the death of Leah Freeman.
The lawyers contend McGuffin, now 29, was prevented from getting a fair trial after the state introduced what they call irrelevant evidence about his character. They also contend jurors were biased and that the state’s evidence fell short of the necessary legal standard.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Erika Soublet is writing a response.
Freeman was 15 when she disappeared on the night of June 28, 2000. Her body was found five weeks later. Police investigated McGuffin at the time but no charges were filed until last year.
