Maine’s highest court on Thursday will hear the appeal of a Sabattus man, convicted of the Aug. 15, 2005 murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Daniel Roberts never denied shooting Melissa Mendoza but he disputed the state’s theory that he set a trap for her. Roberts contended the shooting was self-defense, and that Mendoza had arrived at his house to kill him.

Roberts and Mendoza were embroiled in a custody dispute over their 2-year-old daughter, Savanna.

A Superior Court jury convicted Roberts in February 2007, and in June of last year he was sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Roberts’ lawyer, Tom Marjerison, will argue the case at 1 p.m. Thursday before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber will represent the state.

In his brief filed with the court, Marjerison said the lower court erred when it allowed some evidence at trial, such as a protection from abuse order taken out by Mendoza, but excluded other evidence, such as witness statements that Mendoza had threatened to kill Roberts.