Retrial request in murder case is denied

A District Court judge denied convicted killer Norman Flowers' request for a new trial Wednesday.

In October, a jury convicted Flowers, 34, of sexually assaulting and killing Sheila "Pooka" Quarles, 18. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Flowers' other criminal cases shouldn't have been raised during the trial, said one of his attorneys, Deputy Special Public Defender Clark Patrick. District Judge Stewart Bell disagreed and denied the request for a new trial.

Flowers is accused of killing and sexually assaulting two other women. He is set to go to trial in those cases next year.