CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Lawyers for Wyoming's lone death row inmate are telling a federal judge that their client didn't get a fair trial.

Dale Wayne Eaton is challenging the constitutionality of the state death sentence he received in the 1988 rape and murder of an 18-year-old Lisa Marie Kimmell of Billings, Mont.

Eaton's lawyers told U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson of Cheyenne on Monday that Eaton's trial lawyers did an inadequate job of researching his background and failed to make good arguments that he deserved only a life sentence.

State lawyers maintain that Eaton received a fair trial. Johnson started a hearing Monday on the state's request to dismiss Eaton's claims. The hearing will continue on Tuesday.

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