New legal twist for man convicted of killing Jamie Hahn

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The man convicted of killing a prominent North Carolina Democratic Party strategist and attacking her husband is appealing.

A jury found Jonathan Broyhill guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Jamie Hahn on March 18, 2015. He was sentenced to life in prison for the killing.

RELATED: Jury convicts Jonathan Broyhill of first-degree murder in death of Democratic strategist

Broyhill was also convicted of attempted first-degree murder for attacking Hahn's husband Nation when he came to her rescue in April 2013. He was also found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon.

Now, his attorney argues he should be given a new trial because his psychiatrist at Central Prison was not allowed to testify as a trial witness. If the doctor had been allowed to testify, the defense maintains the jury would have likely convicted Broyhill of second-degree murder.

"Yet the trial court excluded this evidence. In doing so, the trial court committed reversible constitutional error entitling Mr. Broyhill to a new trial," said Gordon Widenhouse before an appeals court Wednesday.

An Attorney for the state argued the jury was well aware of Broyhill's mental state and he believes the doctor's testimony would have been irrelevant.

Broyhill worked for Jamie as a bookkeeper. Broyhill was also a childhood friend of Nation's and served as best man at the couple's wedding.