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The murder conviction of a Washington man has been upheld in appeals court. 73-year-old James Blum was sentenced to 50 years in prison in February 2011, for the second-degree murder of his wife. Blum appealed the judgment and sentence, claiming his counsel was ineffective and didn’t prove that he committed the act without malice or forethought. According to court documents the appeals court affirmed the conviction, due to the fact there was sufficient evidence to convict him.

Blum smothered his wife during an argument in January 2010. He is currently serving a 50 year prison term at the Oakdale Correctional Center in Johnson County.