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IA Court affirms conviction in 2003 Pott. County murder case

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June 7th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A man who appealed his conviction of first-degree murder in Pottawattamie County has had his appeal for Post Conviction Relief (PCR) denied. The Iowa Court of Appeals heard the request from David Gonzales-Becerra, who was convicted in the fall 2003 beating death in Council Bluffs, of 35-year old Oscar Flores. The incident happened at a party. Becerra, who was 25-year old at the time, was one of three men convicted in the case. He had appealed his conviction to the Iowa Supreme Court, which denied further review. A district court determined Becerra’s claims were time-barred, and denied the application for relief.

In its opinion, the Appeals Court said Post Conviction Relief applications must be filed within three-years of the date of conviction. Becerra initiated his PCR on Dec. 5th, 2013, which fell outside the rules for timely application.

The Appeals Court said the district court was correct in its decision, based on the Statute of Limitations, and affirmed their decision to deny PCR.