High court hearing appeal from man convicted of killing wife

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – The South Dakota Supreme Court is hearing an appeal from a Pierre man convicted of killing his wife 13 years ago.

At issue before the court Tuesday is whether Brad Reay’s attorney provided adequate counsel. Reay was convicted of killing Tami Reay in Pierre in February 2006.

The victim’s body was found by a Lake Oahe’s spillway north of Pierre after an extensive search. She’d been stabbed multiple times and her throat had been cut.

A jury convicted Reay of first-degree murder despite his attempts to pin the death on their 12-year-old daughter.

In his appeal, Reay argues defense attorney Tim Rensch failed to pursue experts to look into bite marks on the victim’s body, DNA on a towel or tool marks on a tarp covering Tami’s body.

AP-WF-08-27-19 1552GMT