RI Supreme Court hears Pona appeal

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The man found guilty of arranging the shooting death of a 15-year-old murder witness is appealing his latest conviction to Rhode Island's highest court.

On Thursday, the Rhode Island Supreme Court was scheduled to hear arguments in the murder case of Charles Pona, as relates to the tragic killing of 15-year-old Jennifer Rivera.

Rivera was shot to death while jumping rope outside her Providence home in May 2000, the night before she was supposed to testify that she saw Pona running from the scene of the 1999 murder of Hector Feliciano. 

Pona was eventually convicted of killing Feliciano.  He was later tried twice for the teenage girl's murder.

In 2003, a jury found Pona guilty of ordering Rivera's execution. Five years later, however, the Rhode Island Supreme Court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial because of concerns over previously-taped testimony from Jennifer Rivera that was played at trial following her death.

In 2010, Pona was tried a second time for Rivera's murder and once again convicted.

He is now service two consecutive life sentences for the two killings.

The Supreme Court Judges may make a decision within 6 to 8 weeks.