National Football League

Court won't stop new trial in Biletnikoff death

Published Mar. 29, 2010 3:51 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Supreme Court won't stop a man convicted of murdering the daughter of former NFL star Fred Biletnikoff from getting a new trial.

The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from California prosecutors, who had their conviction of Mohammed Haroon Ali thrown out by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ali admitted to strangling his girlfriend, 20-year-old Tracey Biletnikoff, in 1999. But the federal appellate court said prosecutors were improperly motivated by race when they dismissed the only two black potential jurors from the jury.

Jurors went on to convict Ali of first-degree murder. Prosecutors denied race was a factor in jury selection.

Ali is currently serving a 55 years-to-life sentence.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League