Court upholds conviction in 1980 murder

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin appeals court has upheld a conviction in a 1980 murder.

Curtis Forbes of Randolph was sentenced to life in prison in 2010 after he was convicted of first-degree murder in the beating and stabbing of 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre.

Forbes argued on appeal that the lower court should not have allowed a statement from his wife that she had seen blood on his shirt. The 4th District Court of Appeals wrote Thursday that any error in admitting the statement was harmless because the jury was likely to have reached the same verdict without it.

The appellate court also rejected Forbes' argument that he should have been allowed to present more evidence implicating McIntyre's husband.

Forbes' defense attorney didn't immediately respond to a phone message.