OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma appeals court has upheld the life prison sentence of a 60-year-old man convicted of beating another man to death with a baseball bat.
The state Court of Criminal Appeals handed down the decision Thursday to Tony Overton, who was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges by an Oklahoma County jury in the Aug. 29, 2012, beating death of 55-year-old Ricky Wallice of Oklahoma City.
Authorities say Wallice suffered a fractured skull when he was bludgeoned with a bat and later died at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center.
Among other things, the appeals court rejected claims by Overton that he did not receive a fair trial and that his defense attorney was ineffective.
Defense attorney Gina Walker didn’t immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.