MISSOULA — A Montana man convicted of fatally shooting a German exchange student who was trespassing in his garage is asking the United States Supreme Court to consider his case.
The Missoulian reports Markus Kaarma’s attorneys are asking the high court to consider if their client’s requests to have his trial moved because of intense media coverage should have been granted and whether certain jury instructions given at trial should have been allowed.
The Montana Supreme Court decided in February to uphold Kaarma’s 70-year prison sentence.
Kaarma was convicted of shooting 17-year-old Diren Dede in Missoula in April 2014. The teen had apparently gone into Kaarma’s garage to steal beer.
Even if the U.S. Supreme Court declines to take up his case, Kaarma could continue to challenge his conviction with a lawsuit.