MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Wisconsin Supreme Court will not hear Dennis Brantner’s appeal challenging his conviction for the murder of Berit Beck.
Beck disappeared in August, 1990, and her body was found in Fond du Lac County. Charges weren’t filed until March, 2015.
Brantner’s first trial, on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide, ended with a hung jury. Brantner later entered an Alford plea to an amended count of second-degree reckless homicide, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence, but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.
He appealed, arguing the provision against double-jeopardy should have prevented his conviction after the hung jury.
The state court of appeals rejected that argument last August. And in the most recent list of cases the Supreme Court has decided to hear or not, Brantner’s appeal is on the rejected list – leaving the appeals court ruling in place.
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