Court to hear murder appeal

A man convicted in a 2006 murder wants the Nebraska Supreme Court to throw out his conviction and life sentence, saying his confession to police was obtained illegally.

An attorney for Patrick Schroeder argues that before confessing, his client invoked his right to remain silent during an interrogation by police and was ignored. Robert Kortus, of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, argues that Schroeder’s confession and evidence seized as a result shouldn’t have been admitted at trial.

The high court is scheduled to hear arguments on Wednesday.

A Richardson County jury found Schroeder, now 32, guilty following a second trial for the killing of 75-year-old farmer Kenneth Albers. A first trial ended in a mistrial after a Pawnee County jury deadlocked.

Albers was murdered in April 2006 and his body dumped in a well near his home southwest of Pawnee City. Prosecutors argued that Schroeder intended to rob Albers, then killed him with a club during the robbery.

Schroeder once worked for Albers as a farmhand.

Investigators recovered the weapon, bloodstained clothing and stolen cash after searching Schroeder’s home and a vehicle.

According to briefs filed in his appeal, Schroeder invoked his right to remain silent during an April 2006 police interview, saying: “This is the end of this conversation. I’m done.”

But the investigator continued the interview for a time.