In brief: Spokane murder conviction upheld on appeal

Appellate court judges upheld the murder conviction of Julio J. Davila in the 2007 beating death of John G. “Jack” Allen Jr., despite concerns about the incompetence of a DNA technician handling the case.

Jeramie R. Davis was convicted  and spent nearly seven years in prison for his alleged role in the porn shop robbery. But investigators asked for a second look at DNA evidence found at the crime scene, a pornography shop on East Sprague Avenue. Traces of Davila’s DNA on the murder weapon, a baseball bat, led to his arrest, conviction and sentencing in a subsequent trial.

Davila appealed, saying prosecutors did not turn over evidence of incompetence on the part of Washington State Patrol crime lab technician Denise Olson. Attorneys for Davila argued his conviction should be overturned because prosecutors knew about Olson’s shoddy work at the time of trial, but didn’t reveal her record to the defense team.

The appellate court ruled prosecutors erred when they did not turn over the WSP reports, but such evidence likely wouldn’t have led to a different trial outcome for Davila.

Davila is serving what remains of his 16 1/2-year sentence at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Davis was released from custody in 2013.

Longtime pro sues Idaho golf course

Gary Lindeblad, the longtime pro at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane, slipped and fell at The Golf Club at Black Rock two years ago and hurt his neck, shoulders and back, according to a new lawsuit.

Lindeblad and his wife, Kristine, are suing Black Rock and the course management company, Troon Golf, for an unspecified amount. The suit was filed Friday in 1st District Court in Kootenai County.

In the suit, Lindeblad claims he was injured Aug. 24, 2012, when “dangerous conditions” on the Black Rock course south of Coeur d’Alene caused him to slip and fall. As a result, he suffered “significant injuries” and “pain and suffering,” the suit alleges, as well as lost wages and future earning capacity.

Black Rock General Manager Shatana Pole did not return a call seeking comment. Lindeblad declined to comment when reached by phone.

Lindeblad played in the Rosauers Open Invitational in July and took part in a nine-hole exhibition charity event Monday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course. He was inducted into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame last October.