09/28/2012

US court upholds ‘Rockefeller’ convictions

BOSTON (AP) – The Massachusetts appeals court has upheld the kidnapping and assault convictions of the German man who used the name Clark Rockefeller.

The court Friday rejected arguments for a new trial from lawyers for Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, who said his case was marred by pretrial publicity and the trial judge allowed improper testimony from a psychiatric expert.

Gerhartsreiter was convicted in 2009 of kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter during a supervised visit in Boston. He was also found guilty of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon for injuries to a social worker overseeing the visit.

Gerhartsreiter, who also used other identities, was sentenced to four-to-five years in prison.

Earlier this year, a California judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Gerhartsreiter for trial there in a 1985 slaying.

BOB SALSBERG

Source: AP

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