LAKE COUNTY – The California Supreme Court has turned down a Lake County man's petition to review his June 2007 murder conviction.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court turned down the Edward James Munoz's petition for review of his case, according to court documents.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who prosecuted the case, said Munoz filed the petition request on May 14.

Munoz was convicted of the March 2006 murder of 26-year-old Leah Leister and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Hinchcliff has called the case one of the worst he's ever taken to trial.

Munoz stabbed Leister 17 times after she was bound with duct tape and a plastic bag was put over her head. Her young son was asleep in the next room and a female friend was sleeping on the living room couch while the crime took place.

On April 29, the First Appellate Court turned down Munoz's appeal, as Lake County News has reported.

Munoz has claimed that another man killed Leister, according to court records.

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