Joseph Thomas Jr. was convicted in December 2011 for strangling his ex-wife Beth Irby-Thomas. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
In January 2015, the Idaho Supreme Court overturned the first-degree murder conviction, after the Idaho Court of Appeals said the lower court erred in excluding some evidence but ruled the error “harmless”.
The key issue at trial is whether Beth accidentally strangled herself. The Supreme court ruled that the lower court erred by excluding evidence that could have corroborated his claim that Beth liked to engage in erotic asphyxiation. The justices cited excluded evidence from friends who said Beth liked to be choked into unconsciousness.
Supporters allege State misconduct and coercive tactics.
In December 2015, the retrial was set for August 8, 2016.
