The man convicted of killing a Louisiana dancer, cutting her body into pieces and dumping her remains along the Mississippi coast will not get a new trial.
The attorney for Terry Speaks had said he is mentally ill, and argued that the judge should have questioned his client about his mental health when Speaks said he wanted to be his own attorney. A judge Thursday denied the request and sentenced Speaks to life in prison without parole for the death of Jaren Lockhart. He must also serve another 40 years in jail for obstruction of justice and 20 for conspiracy.
Speaks’ former girlfriend, Margaret Sanchez, who’s also facing murder charges in the case, is tentatively scheduled to stand trial December 7.
