Spokane Valley appeals poison-making conviction Eds: APNewsNow.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) A Spokane Valley man serving a 10-year sentence for making the poison ricin (RY'-sin) is asking to have his conviction overturned because one of the government's expert witnesses was fired for misconduct on other cases.

A federal court hearing is set for Jan. 29 on the appeal filed by Kenneth Olsen.

He wants a new trial because of the firing of the head of the Washington State Patrol crime lab where evidence was tested. Arnold Melnikoff was fired in 2004 after a Montana rape case was overturned because his testimony was not based on sound science.

Olsen was convicted in 2003 of making the deadly poison as part of a plan to kill his wife.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-20-09 1032CST | save this article / add to your favorites list