TRENTON — The New Jersey Supreme Court won’t take up the appeal of Melanie McGuire, essentially ending the case of the fertility nurse convicted of killing her husband in 2004 and putting his dismembered body parts in suitcases she dumped into the Chesapeake Bay. In usual Supreme Court style, the state’s highest court did not give a reason for...
Melanie McGuire listens during her 2007 trial that later led to her conviction for killing and dismember her husband, William McGuire, 39, in their Woodbridge apartment in 2004. Today, the state Supreme Court denied to hear McGuire's appeal, essentially ending her case.TRENTON — The New Jersey Supreme Court won’t take up the appeal of Melanie McGuire, essentially ending the case of the fertility nurse convicted of killing her husband in 2004 and putting his dismembered body parts in suitcases she dumped into the Chesapeake Bay.
In usual Supreme Court style, the state’s highest court did not give a reason for turning down her request for the justices to hear her appeal. In a three-paragraph order signed Sept 20 by Justice Virginia Long and released today, the court simply said her request was denied and her appeal is dismissed.
McGuire, 38, was found guilty of fatally shooting her husband, William McGuire. In her appeal, McGuire said her 2007 murder conviction should be reversed, in part, because at least one juror read internet blog posts during the trial.
She also had asked the trial judge, Superior court Judge Frederick DeVesa, for a new trial, claiming the markings on bullets fired from the .38-caliber handgun she bought three days before the killing did not match the markings on bullets taken from her husband’s body.
But prosecutors argued they never insisted William McGuire was shot with that gun because investigators never found the murder weapon.
McGuire’s attorney, Stephen Turano, said he was disappointed with the decision and has not yet spoken to his former client about it.
"I know she’s going to be extremely, extremely disappointed with the decision,’’ Turano said.
This ends the chain of appeals to which McGuire is automatically entitled. But she, like other defendants, may now seek post-conviction relief, which is reserved for issues that are not part of the official court record.
McGuire is serving a life sentence.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. appeals court upholds life sentence for convicted suitcase killer Melanie McGuire
• N.J. says 'media frenzy' did not affect case of convicted suitcase killer Melanie McGuire
• Appeals court rejects Melanie McGuire's arguments about new evidence in suitcase slaying
• Convicted suitcase killer Melanie McGuire seeks another trial
• N.J. Attorney General files to block appeal in McGuire suitcase slaying case
• Melanie McGuire's attorney files motions signaling appeal for convicted murderer