The Third District appeals court Wednesday upheld a ruling that allows incriminating conversations by Joseph Eckstein to be used as evidence.
The 64-year-old Eckstein argued his conviction should be overturned because his attorneys were ineffective in trying to exclude the tape-recorded conversations.
Eckstein had earlier argued he didn't receive a fair sentence. But, in July 2000, an appeals court upheld Eckstein's conviction and ruled his 40 year sentence was proper.
A woman testified Eckstein offered to pay ten-thousand dollar in 1998 if her son would kill Eckstein's estranged wife, Annamaria. She had filed for divorce and the couple had a dispute over marital assets valued at more than $1 million.
The woman was a friend of Eckstein's girlfriend. She tipped police about the plot and allowed investigators to tape some conversations between her and Eckstein.
He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
