Federal judge overturns Mark Jensen conviction
Posted: Dec 19, 2013 1:46 PM CDT | Updated: Nov 5, 2014 1:04 PM CDT
MILWAUKEE -- A federal judge overturned the 2008 conviction of Mark Jensen, a man sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of his wife Julie Jensen.
Jensen appealed his conviction, then tried to get his case heard by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. After the State Supreme Court refused to hear his case, Jensen took his case federal.
Jensen says evidence of several accusations against him made by his wife before she died was wrongfully used in trial. He says this action violated his sixth amendment right to confront his accusor. Jensen believes evidence like a letter written by Julie Jensen played a large role in the verdict determined by the jury.
Federal Judge William Griesbach believes Jensen's sixth amendment rights were violated during the 2008 trial. Jensen will not be immediately released from the Dodge Correctional Institution. The state will have the chance to appeal this federal ruling.