MOORPARK : Court Upholds Murder Conviction

The state Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a Moorpark man found guilty of strangling his wife--a decision that could impact the high-profile O. J. Simpson murder case.

James Linkenauger was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1993 death of JoAnn Linkenauger, who was beaten and strangled.

Linkenauger had asked the 2nd District Court of Appeal to reverse the conviction, claiming improper evidence was introduced at his trial in Ventura County Superior Court.

During the trial, prosecutors offered evidence that Linkenauger had abused his wife in the past and, in fact, had been seen dragging the woman outside their Moorpark home the night of her death.

In March, the state appeal court based in Ventura refused to overturn the conviction. In a unanimous decision, the court said Linkenauger’s prior displays of violence indicated he had again assaulted his wife.

Thursday, the state Supreme Court upheld the appeal court decision by refusing to review the issue.

The defense in the Simpson trial also is trying to exclude evidence of previous abuse directed at Nicole Brown Simpson, who was killed last June along with friend Ronald Goldman. O. J. Simpson is charged with two counts of murder in that case in Los Angeles County.