Judge Rejects Einhorn’s Bid to Overturn Murder Conviction
Ira Einhorn’s bid to overturn his murder conviction was rejected Monday by a judge who dismissed defense claims that he made mistakes during the trial of the former hippie guru.
Defense attorneys said they will appeal.
Einhorn, 62, was convicted last month and sentenced to life without parole for bludgeoning former girlfriend Holly Maddux to death in 1977. He kept her remains in a steamer trunk in his closet.
Defense attorneys contend Judge William Mazzola improperly allowed testimony involving two former girlfriends who said Einhorn turned violent when they tried to end relationships with him. Defense attorney Mitchell Strutin said the incidents happened too long ago to be relevant.
“We were forced to defend against this second layer of charges. It amounted to a trial within a trial,” he said.
But prosecutor Joel Rosen said the assaults and journal entries demonstrated that Einhorn had a “philosophy of violence.”
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