BURLINGTON, IOWA (AP) -- The Iowa Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial for a Burlington man accused of killing his ex-wife and then setting fire to her house.
The court ruled Wednesday that a Des Moines County judge wrongly excluded testimony from a witness who would have suggested Dennis Richards wasn't strong enough to kill his ex-wife, whose body wase Iowa Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial for a Burlington man accused of killing his ex-wife and then setting fire to her house.
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The court ruled Wednesday that a Des Moines County judge wrongly excluded testimony from a witness who would have suggested Dennis Richards wasn't strong enough to kill his ex-wife, whose body was found in her burning home in 2009.
The court says the witness should have been allowed to testify.
Prosecutors say Richards manually strangled Cyd Richards before setting fire to her home. He was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree arson and sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Richards' attorney says she expects the state will seek further review of the decision. Prosecutors say they are reviewing their options. found in her burning home in 2009.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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