Ontario judges dismiss Tess Richey killer Kalen Schlatter's appeal

A Toronto man convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Tess Richey has had his appeal dismissed.

Ontario Court ofAppeal panel judgesdeliberatedKalen Schlatter's challenge for roughly 10 minutes on Tuesdaybefore deliveringtheir verdict.Their reasoning will come at a later date.

On Mar. 23, 2020, a jury found Schlatter guilty of first-degree murder. The Crown arguedSchlattersexually assaulted, then strangledRichey to death.

Schlatter filed a notice of appealmore than a week after he was found guilty.

During Schlatter's seven-week trial, his defence team denied his culpability and presented an alternate suspect who they insisted was the actual killer.

In the legal brief prepared by Schlatter's defencefor his appeal, his lawyers argued the trial judge erred in refusing to allow Schlatter to cross-examine the alternate suspect and erred in admitting the evidence of two undercover officers, who testified they spoke to Schlatter while in neighbouring jail cells after his arrest, among other arguments.

First-degree murder carries an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.