MADISONVILLE-With claims that the court had erred in allowing a TBI agent to mention her past criminal history, among other things, Jessica Kennedy's lawyer had sought a new trial for his client.

It didn't take Judge Walter Kurtz long to deny the motion.

John Eldridge represented Kennedy in the week long trial last August in the death of Sweetwater businessman Jim Miller. Miller was shot and left in a burning car on a country road in July 2010.

Eldridge said in addition to the TBI agent bringing up Kennedy's past criminal history, the court also denied her the funds to secure an expert in false confessions, limiting the testimony of witness on Kennedy's mental state and not suppressing a confession she made during an interview with law enforcement.

See full story in the Sunday, Jan. 20, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.