KITTANNING — A judge has rejected the appeal of a Western Pennsylvania man serving a life sentence for starving his 4-year-old daughter, whose 11 1/2-pound body was stuffed in a picnic cooler and left for garbage haulers.

Armstrong County Judge Kenneth Valasek has ruled that 46-year-old James Tatar doesn't deserve a new trial. Tatar had argued his attorney was not qualified to defend the death penalty case when he was convicted in the August 2003 death of Kristen Tatar.

A jury convicted Tatar of first-degree murder, but decided against the death penalty in the case.

Valasek says Tatar received adequate representation because his attorney was assisted by another with expertise in death penalty cases.