Federal court upholds inmate’s conviction in 2007 robbery, murder case in Biloxi

A Mississippi death row inmate has lost his latest appeal in federal court.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Jason Keller’s conviction and death sentence for the 2007 robbery and murder of a Biloxi convenience store owner.

Keller argued that a confession he gave while recovering in intensive care should have been thrown out because he was under the influence of pain medication and because police had previously questioned him in the emergency room.

The three-judge panel ruled Keller knowingly waived his rights before the ICU interview and said there was no evidence police coerced his confession or deliberately violated his constitutional rights.

The ruling leaves Keller’s conviction and death sentence in place.

The case could still be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.