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Joseph Elledge
Joseph Elledge has been convicted of second degree murder for the death of his wife, Menggi Ji

Rosenblum’s legal filing outlines his argument for new murder trial for Elledge

Joseph Elledge
Joseph Elledge is charged with first degree murder

The top lawyer for a Columbia man convicted of killing his wife in 2019 and burying her in Rock Bridge state park wants a new trial.

St. Louis defense attorney Scott Rosenblum has filed a five-page motion for a new trial, saying Boone County Judge Brouck Jacobs erred in admitting 1,000 photographs during the trial. The photos were of Joseph Elledge and Menggi Ji’s daughter Anna, along with photos of Ji holding Anna.

Rosenblum argues that “this evidence was admitted for the sole purpose of prejudicing the jury against the defendant.”

Rosenblum also says Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight improperly argued that the jury should “send a message” during his closing arguments.

Knight and Rosenblum clashed numerous times during the November trial.

Elledge was convicted of second degree murder. Knight told jurors that Joseph Elledge lied numerous times during the trial, and that Elledge tortured his wife and deserves no mercy.

Elledge is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17. There’s been no ruling on the motion for a new trial.

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