The man sent to prison for shooting to death a popular Park City bartender three years ago has officially appealed his conviction and sentence to state court.
The case of 30-year-old James Enoch Henfling is now resting with the Utah State Court of Appeals.
Henfling was arrested for shooting Jose Fernandez in February of 2016, after a fight broke out between the two men during a late-night party at the victim’s Oldtown apartment.
In the fall of 2017, he was convicted on one count of Murder and a count of Felony discharge of a Firearm. Early in 2018, Third District Court Judge Patrick Corum sentenced him to a prison term of 16 years to Life.
This January, Henfling’s request for a new trial was turned down by the judge, who over-ruled the defendant’s claim of self-defense and allegations from his attorney of prosecutorial misconduct.
Last month, Henfling appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, which shortly afterward referred the case to the Court of Appeals.