Two cousins who were convicted in a Rutherford County murder-for-hire plot and sentenced to 15 years each in prison are asking to be re-heard in court.
Pratikkumar Patel, of Gallatin, and his cousin, Kalpesh Patel, received the sentence from Circuit Court Judge David Bragg for the convictions on solicitation and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
The Patel's were found guilty after paying Chris Robinson of Rutherford County $15,000 to have Pratik's wife, Krupaben Patel, killed in 2013. The reported reason for the planned murder, because they couldn't get a divorce. However, she was never killed and Robinson turned the information over to the TBI instead of harming anyone.
Now, the Patel cousins have filed an appeal suggesting that the evidence did not support their convictions for conspiracy to commit first degree murder. They also claim the courts failed to suppress evidence gathered on their cellphones without first getting a warrant.
Despite efforts for a new trial, it looks as if the Patel's will remain guilty and they will keep their sentencing. The Court of Criminal appeals of Tennessee filed on August 25, 2017 that they agree with the original conviction from Judge Bragg in a Rutherford County Courtroom.
- Pratikkumar Patel will be 49 years old when his sentence officially ends in 2030. However, he will be eligible for parole on January 31, 2018 (next year).
- Kalpesh Patel will be 61 when his sentence ends in year 2030. He will be eligible for parole on January 15, 2018 (next year).
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