Man serving life for killing daughter appeals case

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Attorneys for a man serving a life sentence for raping and killing his 12-year-old daughter say the conviction should be tossed because a trial judge didn’t let jurors hear statements from another man.

Lawyers for Billy Wayne Cope told the state Supreme Court on Tuesday that a jury should have heard co-defendant James Sanders’ statements that he entered and exited the child’s home through a window. They say those statements show that it was unlikely that the pair had teamed up to commit the crimes in 2001.

Prosecutors say Cope’s three confessions were enough for a jury to convict him.

DNA from James Sanders was found on the girl’s body. He’s also serving a life sentence after being convicted at the same trial as Cope in 2004.