Watch CBS News

Court Upholds Murder Conviction In 2004 Antifreeze Death

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court has upheld the 2008 murder conviction of a former radio reporter found guilty of killing his wife by poisoning her with antifreeze.

The state Supreme Judicial Court said in its decision issued Monday the evidence of James Keown's guilt was "overwhelming." Keown is serving a life sentence in the 2004 death of Julie Keown.

ANTIFREEZE-HUSBAND
James Keown (WBZ-TV)

The court rejected arguments that the judge presiding over the trial was wrong to allow evidence from Keown's laptop and his internet search results, which included "antifreeze human death" and "poison recipe."

Authorities said the former Missouri man killed his 31-year-old wife by spiking his wife's Gatorade with antifreeze while the couple lived in Waltham.

Keown's lawyer had argued his wife could have accidentally ingested the chemical or taken her own life.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.