Convicted murderer Elledge seeks new trial, citing ineffective counsel
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia man convicted in 2022 of murdering his wife is asking for a new trial, claiming his lawyers were not effective.
Joseph D. Elledge was convicted in Boone County of murdering his wife, Mengqi Ji, and disposing of her body in Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison. The conviction was upheld on appeal last August.
Elledge admitted at trial that he killed his wife but claimed her death was an accident. Medical examiners were unable to provide a cause of death because of the decomposed state of Ji's body. The state said due to a missing neck bone in Ji's remains, they believe Elledge strangled her.
Tyler Coyle, a public defender who represents Elledge, wrote in a motion for a new trial filed this week in Boone County that Elledge's lawyers erred several times, including by putting Elledge on the stand against his wishes.
The defense also failed to object several times when they should have and failed to present evidence to rebut prosecutors' claims that Elledge was in a turbulent marriage.
No hearings are scheduled, according to online court records, and it's not clear when a judge might rule on the motion.
