The Iowa Attorney General’s office has filed a response resisting a request for a new trial for the man found guilty in the shooting death of Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas. Mark Becker’s attorney filed the motion for a new trial after his first-degree murder conviction, saying that the verdict was contrary to the law and evidence for the insanity defense that Becker used.
The Attorney General’s response asks the judge to deny a new trial The response says there was ample evidence presented at the trial that Becker had sufficient mental capacity to understand the nature and quality of his acts. It lists several examples, including: Becker had a detailed plan for the murder, he practiced with the weapon prior to the murder and Becker repeatedly referred to Thomas as a human being and not a supernatural being.
Becker’s lawyer also said the district court erred in failing to give two jury instructions. The A-G’s response says the jury instructions were properly dismissed by the court. Becker is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.
See the complete response from the Attorney General on the Becker motion here: A.G. Becker response PDF