Missouri Supreme Court asked to intervene in Politte case

Attorneys for Michael Politte, who was convicted at age 14 of killing his mother, have filed a petition asking the Missouri Supreme Court to free him after more than 22 years behind bars, citing now-disproven evidence, a faulty investigation and a flawed trial defense. 

The motion was filed Wednesday. Rita Politte was burned to death inside her mobile home in Hopewell, Missouri, in 1998. 

Politte, now 37, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison after being tried as an adult. 

He is housed at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.