Defense seeks new trial for man convicted of killing Kansas student

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. | The defense attorney for an Arkansas City man convicted of killing a 19-year-old college student two years ago is asking for a new trial.

Justin Thurber was found guilty last month of capital murder in the January 2007 death of Jodi Sanderholm. Jurors also recommended the death penalty.

The Cowley College student was abducted, raped and strangled.

Thurber’s defense claims in its filing that the court should not have allowed evidence of bad character and past bad acts to be presented at his trial. It also argues that Thurber was illegally arrested.

Prosecutors have denied the claims in their own filing.

District Judge Jim Pringle will consider the defense request before Thurber’s scheduled sentencing Friday.

This story was originally published March 18, 2009 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Defense seeks new trial for man convicted of killing Kansas student."