Oklahoma Man Convicted in Killing of Son-In-Law Files Federal Appeal

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — An Oklahoma man convicted of hiring his handyman to kill his son-in-law in North Dakota is taking his case to federal court.

Gene Kirkpatrick is serving a life term in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the October 2009 death of Fargo dentist Philip Gattuso. Kirkpatrick's daughter, Valerie, died of a long illness seven months before Gattuso was killed.

Kirkpatrick says in his handwritten federal court filing that his lawyers did a poor job of representing him and his statements to police should not have been admitted in court. He says either the charges should be dropped, he should be granted a new trial or the sentence should be modified to make him eligible for parole immediately.

Kirkpatrick lost previous appeals with the state district court and state Supreme Court.

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