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RALEIGH, N.C. — The state appointed Tom Maher Monday to handle Mike Peterson's appeal.
Maher was one of the defense attorneys in the Durham novelist's trial and is about to open up his own law firm. Peterson was convicted of the December 2001 murder of his wife, Kathleen.
The state will pay Maher $65 an hour to defend Peterson.
David Rudolf, who was Peterson's lead attorney in the trial, said he will volunteer his services in the appeal if he is needed.
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