Court upholds life sentence

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld the life prison sentence of a man convicted in the stabbing death of a 24-year-old man.

The court handed down the decision Wednesday in the case of 30-year-old Eric Jason Spears, who was convicted by a jury in Tulsa County of first-degree murder in the Oct. 9, 2012, death of 24-year-old Devin Maggs.

Spears was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole and must serve about 38 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.

Authorities say police officers discovered Maggs inside a Tulsa residence. Maggs had multiple stab wounds to his torso and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Spears told police he acted in self-defense, but an affidavit quoted witnesses as saying Maggs was unarmed.