NJ court upholds murder conviction but trims sentence for carjacker whose victim taped crime
By APFriday, January 8, 2010
NJ court upholds carjack killer’s convictions
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A New Jersey appeals court has reduced the sentence of a man who carjacked and killed a teacher who secretly tape-recorded their conversation during the crime.
Michael LaSane will have to serve life plus 30 years.
His original sentence was life plus 60 years, but an appeals court ruling published Friday held that his convictions for carjacking and kidnapping should have been merged instead of considered separately.
LaSane was convicted in 2007 of the death of 45-year-old Kathleen Weinstein 11 years earlier. Weinstein’s tape was played at LaSane’s trial. During much of the tape, she tried to persuade the man to let her go.
Friday’s ruling rejected LaSane’s attempt to have his convictions reversed. He will be ineligible for parole for 45 years.
