Attorney General's News Release

July 2, 1996

Appeals court upholds Beishline convictions

Jefferson City, Mo. — The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District today affirmed the convictions of John Eric Beishline, a Columbia insurance agent who was found guilty in March 1994 of first degree murder and first degree robbery in connection with the beating and suffocation death of 72-year-old Anna Norton of Troy.

Beishline was sentenced as a prior and persistent offender to a term of life imprisonment without probation or parole for the murder and to a consecutive sentence of life imprisonment for robbery. He appealed his convictions to the Court of Appeals arguing, among other things, that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of murder and that the prosecution had withheld exculpatory evidence. He also attacked the competency of his trial attorney.

The Court of Appeals, in a written opinion issued today, agreed with the Attorney General that the evidence was sufficient to support his murder conviction and that there was no merit to any of the other challenges he raised on appeal.

This marks the third time in the last eight months that the Attorney General's Office has successfully defended appeals by Beishline, Attorney General Jay Nixon said.

In November 1995 the Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld Beishline's convictions and concurrent sentences of life imprisonment and 15 years' imprisonment for elder abuse and first degree burglary in connection with his attack on an 84-year-old Warrenton woman. In April of this year, the Western District affirmed his conviction and five-year sentence for stealing more than $5,000 from an 89-year-old Boonville woman.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818