An appellate court denied the appeal of a Morristown man who was convicted of drowning his wife in 2008.

Following an argument, the defendant drowned his 26-year-old wife in a bathtub at the couple’s Morristown house.

The couple’s 8-year-old daughter witnessed the killing and later testified during the trial. According to the daughter’s testimony, she was awakened by sounds of her mother screaming and splashing coming from the bathroom. When the daughter went into the bathroom, she saw the defendant push the victim and hold her down in the bathtub. The defendant noticed his daughter and told her to leave the bathroom.

At the conclusion of the trial, the defendant was convicted of first degree murder. He was also convicted of several other criminal offenses, including endangering the welfare of a child, hindering apprehension, and tampering with evidence. The judge imposed a sentence of 50 years, to be served at New Jersey State Prison.

After the sentence was handed down, the defendant appealed both the verdict and the sentence. He alleged that prosecutors had retaliated against him because he rejected a plea deal. He also alleged that his right to a speedy trial had been violated and that the judge had issued an erroneous instruction to the jury.

The appellate court ultimately denied the defendant’s appeal. As a result, the defendant will be required to serve a minimum of 38 years in state prison before he becomes eligible for parole.

To learn more about this case, see the NJ.com article entitled “Appeal Denied for Morristown Man Convicted of Drowning Wife in Bathtub.”

If you are facing homicide or murder charges in New Jersey, contact Morristown NJ criminal defense attorney Travis J. Tormey for a free consultation about your case.