South Dakota Supreme Court Hearing Maricela Diaz Appeal

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court is hearing arguments in the appeal of a Mexican national convicted of killing a teenager seven years ago.

Maricela Diaz is serving 80 years in prison for the 2009 death of 16-year-old Jasmine Guevara. Diaz was 15 at the time but was convicted in adult court.

She's appealing on several grounds, including that the case shouldn't have been transferred to adult court and that the jury wasn't made fully aware of abuse she allegedly received from her boyfriend, Alexander Salgado.

Authorities said Diaz and Salgado lured Guevara to a remote site near Mitchell, stabbed her and left her to die in the trunk of a burning car. They said jealousy was the motive.

Salgado pleaded guilty to murder and is serving a life sentence.

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