Appeal denied for man accused of killing pregnant store clerk in Ben Lomond

A state appeals court has denied the appeal of a San Lorenzo Valley man convicted of killing a pregnant store clerk in 2006.

The body of Joanna “Asha” Veil was found dumped in Ben Lomond in September 2006. She was seven months pregnant at time.

Her co-worker at the Ben Lomond Mark, Michael McClish, was charged with her murder. At trial in Santa Cruz County Superior Court in 2012, prosecutors alleged that McClish had been having an affair with Veil. They said he believed the baby could be his and killed her to cover up the extramarital affair.

McClish was married with children at the time of the killing. Autopsy results later revealed the unborn child was not his, but rather, belonged to Veil’s estranged husband.

During the course of that investigation, another woman came forward and reported that McClish had raped her. The woman told law enforcement that the two had had an affair. McClish was convicted in that case before being put on trial for the Veil murder.

In an appeal filed with the San Jose-based 6th District Court of Appeals, McClish argued that the prosecution erred and prejudiced the jury. The appellate court denied that argument and others, and upheld the conviction.

(To read the judges’ full decision, click here.)

McClish is serving life in prison.