FARGO (KFGO-AM) -- A judge has turned down a request for a new trial from the man charged with arranging the murder of his son-in-law in Fargo.
Gene Kirkpatrick had appealed claiming that he had poor legal representation during his trial. He was hoping for an acquittal or a new trial.
East-Central District Judge Steven Marquart turned down Kirkpatrick's appeal. He was convicted of hiring his handyman from Oklahoma to kill Fargo dentist Philip Gattuso. He's serving a life prison term.
The handyman was found guilty in the beating death of Gattuso in his south Fargo condominium.