Court reverses interlocking homicide convictions

By: Associated Press//April 9, 2014//

By: Associated Press//April 9, 2014//

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state appeals court has ordered new trials for two men convicted in a Kenosha homicide five years ago.

Teddy Bieker and John Navigato were each convicted of being a party to first-degree intentional homicide in the drug-related shooting death of Robin Leydel in 2009. Both of them were sentenced to life in prison.

The 2nd District Court of Appeals reversed their convictions on Wednesday and ordered new trials for each of them. The court said the two men were improperly forced into a joint trial. Prosecutors introduced statements Navigato made to police implicating Bieker as the shooter but Bieker wasn’t able to cross-examine Navigato because Navigato chose not to testify.

The state Department of Justice handled the appeal for Kenosha prosecutors. An agency spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a message.

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