BY BETTY ADAMS

Staff Writer

The man convicted 11 months ago of killing his father and former girlfriend wants the state's highest court to overturn his convictions.

John A. Okie, 23, formerly of Newcastle, is seeking a new trial, claiming the judge erred in denying a request to tell jurors what would happen if they returned a verdict of "not criminally responsible by reason of insanity."

Okie also claims the prosecutor's closing argument incorrectly stated that an insanity verdict required a showing of "public insanity."

Okie's attorney in the appeal, Russell Pierce, argues in the brief presented to the law court justices that "Okie has a demonstrable and pervasive history of mental illness."

Okie was convicted in Kennebec County Superior Court of the July 10, 2007, bludgeoning death in Wayne of Alexandra "Aleigh" Mills, 19, a former girlfriend and classmate at Kents Hill School; and of the July 16, 2007, stabbing death of John S. Okie Sr., 59, in the kitchen at the Okie family home in Newcastle.

Justice Joseph Jabar presided over the eight-day double-murder trial.

Okie was sentenced Jan. 30 to 30 years in prison for each murder, with the terms to be served consecutively.

Part of his appeal says the terms should be concurrent and that his mental illness should have been considered a mitigating factor at sentencing.

In his sentencing, Jabar said he considered Okie's mental illness.

"The mental illness does not provide justification but does provide some explanation for the brutal nature of the (Mills) homicide," Jabar wrote.

Oral arguments in the appeal are set for 10:45 a.m. Monday at the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in Portland.

The state, represented by Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber, maintains in its brief that the issues were handled correctly at trial and that the sentences should stand.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com