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TUCSON, Ariz. - A judge has denied a new trial for a man convicted in the first of two murder cases in Tucson.
Pima County Superior Court Judge James Marner ruled Monday that the prosecutors’ case was still strong enough to leave the conviction in place.
He also denied a defense motion for judgment of acquittal notwithstanding the verdict.
Christopher Clements was convicted Sept. 30 of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez.
Christopher Clements
He’s scheduled to be sentenced Monday and is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Lawyers for Clements also sought a change of venue for their client’s other murder trial, scheduled to be heard by a new jury starting Feb. 2 involving the death of 6-year-old Isabel Celis.
Clements, a 40-year-old convicted sex offender with a long criminal record, was arrested in 2018 and indicted on 22 felony counts including two counts each of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the girls’ deaths.
MORE: Man accused of killing 2 Arizona girls convicted of burglary in Maricopa County
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Man found guilty of murder, kidnapping of Tucson girl
A Pima County Superior Court jury deliberated for less than two days before finding Christopher Clements guilty in the death of 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez.
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Man accused of killing 2 Tucson girls facing 1st of 2 trials
Christopher Clements, 40, was arrested in 2018 and indicted on 22 felony counts including two counts each of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the deaths of 6-year-old Isabel Celis and 13-year-old Maribel Gonzales.