MADISON, Wis. -- Chandler Halderson is having two of his convictions vacated after the judge in his case discovered a potential problem that could have forced h
fox47.com
4/19/23
MADISON, Wis. -- Chandler Halderson is having two of his convictions vacated after the judge in his case discovered a potential problem that could have forced him to grant a new trial or other possible relief.
Halderson was convicted more than a year ago on eight counts related to the murder and dismemberment of his parents, Bart and Krista. Among those charges were two counts each for mutilating a corpse and hiding a corpse.
Judge John Hyland says he recently was overseeing another case in which an attorney discovered that Wisconsin state law defines the charge of hiding a corpse as a "lesser-included" charge of the larger crime of mutilating a corpse, and stipulates that a defendant can be convicted of either crime -- but not both.
[...]
Since the jury did convict Halderson on both mutilation charges he faced, the hiding a corpse charge should not have been included on the final verdict list, Hyland said.
While Michael Covey, who has taken over Halderson's case on appeal, described the issue as an "inside baseball" legal matter, all parties agreed to Hyland vacating the two convictions on hiding a corpse. Hyland said vacating those convictions was needed to avoid being required by law to grant Halderson significant post-conviction relief -- including the possibility of a new trial.
Since Halderson's sentences were ordered to be served concurrently and he is serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole after being convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, vacating the convctions on hiding a corpse will not change his sentence and he will remain in prison on a life sentence.
