The man who was convicted 11 months ago of killing his father and former girlfriend wants the state's highest court to overturn his convictions.

John A. Okie, 23, formerly of Newcastle, is seeking a new trial, claiming the judge erred in denying a request to tell jurors what would happen if they returned a verdict of "not criminally responsible by reason of insanity."

Okie also claims that the prosecutor's closing argument incorrectly said that an insanity verdict required a showing of "public insanity."

Okie's attorney in the appeal, Russell Pierce, argues in the brief submitted to the court that "Okie has a demonstrable and pervasive history of mental illness."

Okie was convicted for the bludgeoning death of 19-year-old Alexandra "Aleigh" Mills, on July 10, 2007, in Wayne and the stabbing death of John S. Okie Sr., 59, six days later in the family's home in Newcastle.

Justice Joseph Jabar presided over the trial in Kennebec County Superior Court. Okie was sentenced on Jan. 30 to 30 years in prison for each murder, with the terms to be served consecutively.

Part of his appeal says that the terms should be concurrent and that his mental illness should have been considered a mitigating factor in the sentencing.

Oral arguments in the appeal are set for 10:45 a.m. Monday in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in Portland.

The state, represented by Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber, maintains in its brief that the issues were handled correctly at trial.