A man convicted of killing his sister-in-law a dozen years ago returned to a Duval County courtroom on Monday seeking a new trial.

Chad Heins is serving a life sentence for the April 1994 murder of his sister-in-law, Tina Heins, who was pregnant at the time.

Attorneys for The Innocence Project are asking a judge to consider new evidence that shows that DNA removed from under the victim's fingernails did not belong to Heins.

In the summer, defense attorney's filed an 89-page motion asking a judge to free Heins based on new evidence.

"I really believe if they had this DNA evidence 12 years ago, Chad never would have gone to prison in the first place," said defense attorney Nina Morrison said shortly after the motion was filed.

Assistant State Attorney Rich Manei said the new DNA testing done on old evidence doesn't prove Chad Heins didn't commit the crime.

"We're not so much contesting the findings. I think it's the significance of the findings that's really open for dispute," Manei said in July.

Monday's hearing was a status conference on the case. The next hearing will be held in January.

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• July 13, 2006: New DNA Evidence Could Free Convicted Murderer