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Murder Conviction Upheld For Man In 2011 Lakewood Cop Killing

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Court documents show that a murder conviction has been upheld for a man sentenced to life in prison in the 2011 shooting of a central New Jersey police officer.

Court documents show the state appeals court upheld the 2012 conviction of Jahmell Crockam on Wednesday, the Asbury Park Press reported.

A jury convicted Crockam of walking up to Lakewood Patrolman Christopher Matlosz's police cruiser in January 2011 and shooting him three times at point-blank range.

Matlosz had recognized Crockam as someone who was wanted, and told Crockam to come with him. Crockam then shot Matlosz in the neck and head.

Public defenders had argued some evidence unfairly influenced the jury and that a witness' testimony was tainted.

The court found that Crockam's statements that he intended to kill a police officer were evidence regarding his state of mind.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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