A state appeals court on Wednesday upheld the capital murder conviction of Crispin Harmel in the 2009 strangulation death of a woman in Cedar Park. The Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals rejected Harmel’s argument that there was insufficient evidence to prove that he intentionally killed Jessika Kalaher because she was alive when he left her in the backseat of her car in a restaurant parking lot shortly before 3 a.m. Harmel, who is 39 years old, was found guilty of capital murder for killing Kalaher while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping, robbery or aggravated sexual assault. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, so he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.