Posted: 11:03 AM After a couple of tries, the court has found an attorney for James Emerson's appeal. He was convicted of the 1999 murder of Rhonda Mertes earlier this year. The first two lawyers chosen had a conflict of interest, so they couldn't represent Emerson.
Updated: 6:56 PM Two attorneys appointed to represent convicted killer James Emerson say they can't do it because of a conflict of interest. Emerson wants to appeal his conviction for the 1999 murder of Rhonda Mertes in Wausau.
Updated: 7:35 PM James Emerson, the man convicted of the 1999 murder of Rhonda Mertes will get a public defender for his appeal. The ruling came after a hearing Monday morning in Marathon County Court.
Updated: 6:54 PM James Emerson has been sentenced to life in prison without parole by Judge Greg Grau. Prosecutors say Emerson killed Rhonda Mertes in 1999 after sexually assaulting her.
Updated: 11:16 PM The sentencing for James Emerson, the man convicted of killing Rhonda Mertes in Wausau in 1999, is scheduled for April 6th. He was convicted this week of first degree intentional homicide.
Updated: 11:04 PM James Emerson, who showed no emotion throughout the trial, slumped in his chair and breathed a deep sigh of disbelief after he was found guilty of the 1999 murder of Rhonda Mertes. Her family says they're exuberant with the verdict that finally brings them some closure.
Updated: 4:28 PM James Emerson has been found guilty with the murder of Rhonda Mertes in 1999. She was found brutally beaten and strangled to death in an industrial area of Wausau almost a decade ago. Emerson is expected to be sentenced in April. He faces life in prison.
Updated: 7:33 AM A Marathon County jail inmate who lived on the same cell block as James Emerson, 44, testifies that the defendant admitted to killing Rhonda Mertes, 37.
Updated: 11:11 PM A former co-worker of James Emerson says he had a special curiosity in the Rhonda Mertes murder case and admitted to knowing her, even though police say Emerson told them he didn't. He's charged in Rhonda's 1999 beating death.
Updated: 7:31 PM Jurors hear about evidence on day two of testimony in the James Emerson Murder Trial.
Posted: 1:02 PM Testimony in the James Emerson murder trial continues Monday as 8 witnesses are scheduled to take the stand in Marathon County Court in hopes of piecing together the chain of events that led up to the death of Rhonda Mertes nearly a decade ago.
Updated: 8:29 AM Witnesses are expected to start giving testimony again early Monday morning in front of a heavily guarded man charged with murder.
Updated: 11:30 PM Saturday jurors got a look at what may be the weapon in the murder of a Wausau woman nearly 10 years ago.
Posted: 9:56 AM After a quick motions hearing Friday morning, opening statements in the murder trial for James Emerson are expected at 1pm Friday. He's accused of the 1999 murder of Rhonda Mertes in Wausau.
Updated: 11:09 PM The Marathon County victim-witness coordinator says the jury for the James Emerson trial has been selected. Some motions are set for tomorrow morning with opening statements will follow.
Updated: 4:44 PM After countless delays, the trial for James Emerson is underway. He's accused of the 1999 murder of Rhonda Mertes in Wausau. The Iowa County clerk of court says jury selection began Wednesday morning as scheduled.
Updated: 4:45 PM The Clerk of Courts say a problem with the Marathon County jury hot-line caused only 19-potential jurors to show up for jury selection in the James Emerson trial Monday morning. It's now been pushed back to Wednesday. Opening statements are now expected Friday instead of Wednesday.
Updated: 10:56 AM The man charged with the 1999 death of Rhonda Mertes is supposed to go to trial next week, but Friday morning, James Emerson’s attorney asked to be removed from the case.
Posted: 4:48 PM A jury from Iowa County will decide the guilt or innocence of James Emerson, the man accused of murdering Rhonda Mertes. His attorney argued for a change of venue.
Updated: 10:38 AM The district attorney says the defense needs more time to prepare. So the trial of the man accused of killing Rhonda Mertes has been moved from September to January.
Updated: 11:31 AM The man suspected in the 1999 murder of a Wausau woman is facing additional charges Wednesday. James Emerson is now charged with battery by a prisoner - a felony - stemming from a jail fight authorities say he got into with another inmate in April.
Updated: 3:53 PM Marathon County Judge Greg Grau says an impartial jury can be chosen from the area, even with the extensive news coverage of the case. Emerson is charged with party to the murder of Rhonda Mertes in Wausau in 1999.
Updated: 12:36 PM The Wausau man accused of killing Rhonda Mertes in 1999 has pleaded not guilty.
