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VALPARAISO — Three years after being sentenced to 60 years behind bars for murdering his former girlfriend, Union Township resident Dustin McCowan is taking another shot at overturning his conviction.

McCowan filed what is known as post conviction relief, claiming "ineffective assistance of trial counsel" and "ineffective assistance of appellate counsel."

Unlike earlier challenges, McCowan is not relying on an attorney. He opted instead to fill out the paperwork himself by hand.

Porter County deputy prosecutors Matt Frost and Cheryl Polarek filed a response Tuesday denying the allegations and pointing out that McCowan's conviction has been upheld by the state appellate and supreme courts.

"Accordingly, the issues raised in the petition provide no present grounds for relief to the petitioner," according to the response.

The challenge is pending before Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa, who presided over the high-profile trial in February 2013.

The post conviction relief was one of two remaining options mentioned by a defense attorney a year ago when the Indiana Supreme Court upheld McCowan's conviction.