CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a district court's ruling giving the death penalty to a Las Vegas man who sexually assaulted and killed his ex-girlfriend in 1995.
Six court justices rejected the appeal of James Chappell according to an opinion issued Thursday.
Chappell's appeal stated that his defense attorneys didn't adequately prepare witnesses and failed to find other experts to testify that could have helped his case.
But justices said in the opinion that any issues with Chappell's defense attorneys would not have changed the outcome of the case.
Chappell was convicted in 1995 of first-degree murder, sexual assault and robbery in the death of Deborah Panos, the mother of his three children.
He's one of 83 Nevada prisoners sentenced to death.