State’s Supreme Court passes on serial-killing appeal

By: Associated Press//March 17, 2013//

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — The state Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a Milwaukee man convicted of killing seven women over a 21-year period.

Walter E. Ellis pleaded no contest in 2011 to charges of first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree murder. The 52-year-old was sentenced to life in prison.

He appealed the conviction, arguing in part that he only accepted a plea deal because he thought all the pretrial publicity made it impossible for him to get a fair trial in Milwaukee County. He said the judge should have granted a change in venue.

An appeals court upheld the conviction. Ellis then appealed to the state Supreme Court.

Defense attorney Richard Hart said Friday the high court has declined to take the case.

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