Attorney for convicted murderer Christopher Lee files appeal

The lawyer for Christopher Lee, the former Marine convicted last year of murdering Erin Corwin of Twentynine Palms in 2014 and dumping her body down a mine shaft, filed an appeal Thursday with the 4th Appellate Court District Division 2.

Lee’s attorney, Richard de la Sota, spoke with News Channel 3’s Karen Devine by phone Friday afternoon saying he believes the judge made an error when he gave the jury their deliberation instructions.

De la Sota said the judge should have emphasized to the jury that there were tests they should have used to determine if Lee acted in the heat of passion when he killed Corwin. Lee claimed he snapped because he believed Corwin had sexually abused his young daughter several months earlier.

If the judge grants the appeal, a new trial would be held. According to de la Sota, the appeal process could take up to a year or so.