Killen Faces Appeal Deadline

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Edgar Ray Killen has until Jan. 8 to file documents with a federals appeal court to support claims he deserves a new trial in the 1964 deaths of three civil rights workers.

U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate on Nov. 14 denied Killen’s request to pursue an appeal. Wingate ruled that Killen failed to prove he was denied constitutional rights in his trial.

Killen was convicted of manslaughter in 2005 for the killing of Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Following Wingate’s decision, Killen filed a request with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a certificate of appealability, claiming he had new evidence – or a possible constitutional issue – that could persuade a court to order a new trial.