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IOWA CITY, IOWA (AP) -- UPDATE: April 14, 2010 at 11:23 a.m.

An Iowa judge has denied Mark Becker's request for a new trial in the killing of his high school football coach, clearing the way for Becker to be sentenced for murder.

Iowa District Court Judge Stephen Carroll on Wednesday rejected the motion, in which defense attorney Susan Flander argued the judge improperly refused to issue certain jury instructions she had requested.

Carroll ruled that Flander's requested jury instructions gave an incomplete version of what would happen to Becker if he were convicted.

The 24-year-old Becker was convicted last month of shooting and killing former Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas in June 2009.

He faces an automatic life sentence.

A jury rejected Becker's claim of not guilty by reason of insanity.

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A man convicted of killing a nationally known Iowa high school football coach is scheduled to be in court for sentencing.
   
Mark D. Becker was convicted last month of first-degree murder in the June 2009 shooting death of Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas.
   
Sentencing is set for Wednesday morning in Allison. The 24-year-old Baker faces an automatic sentence of life in prison.
   
Becker's attorney maintains her client was insane at the time of the shooting and has asked for a new trial.
   
The shooting was especially shocking to Parkersburg residents because Thomas was known both for producing winning teams and for leading the community. 

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