NJ Megan's Law killer seeks release or new trial

[June 14, 2011]  TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- An appeals court is expected to rule Tuesday whether the sex offender convicted of killing the New Jersey girl that Megan's Law is named after can get out of prison.

Jesse Timmendequas (tih-MEHN'-deh-kwas) claims his life sentence should be reversed or he should get a new trial.

The 50-year-old was sentenced to death in 1997 for the 1994 kidnap, rape and murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka.

The Statehouse Bureau of The Star-Ledger of Newark and The Record newspaper reports Timmendequas claims he has a right to challenge his trial since New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007.

Assistant Deputy Public Defender Jay Wilensky claims Timmendequas had ineffective counsel.

Megan's Law requires notification when high-risk sex offenders move into neighborhoods.

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Information from: The (Newark) Star-Ledger and The (Woodland Park) Record, http://www.nj.com/starledger/ and http://www.northjersey.com/

[Associated Press]

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