Brownsville man could get new trial for attacking girlfriend

Heiller says jury didn’t get to hear his self-defense argument

A Houston County man who’s now in prison for an attack on his girlfriend could get a new trial in La Crosse County.

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has reversed the 2015 conviction of 32-year-old Dillon Heiller of Brownsville, who’s serving time for strangulation and battery. 

Heiller says his girlfriend became angry and threatened him with a knife, after the mother of his children sent him a text message. 

He says he grabbed the woman by the throat and threw her to the ground, cutting his hand when he took the knife away from her.

Heiller argued that the trial judge, Ramona Gonzalez, did not let the jurors hear his self-defense claim. 

The appeals judges ruled that even if the court thought Heiller’s defense argument was weak, the jury still had a right to hear it. 

Heiller is scheduled to be released from prison late this year.