Missouri death row inmate, Gary Black, will get a new trial. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled this week and his lawyers did not adequately question conflicting testimony regarding premeditation of the murder he was convicted of. Apparently, the statements given to police by several prosecution witnesses conflicted with the testimony they gave at trial. Black's attorneys did not adequately challenge these witnesses and the Missouri Supreme Court has held that this is enough to overturn the death sentence and order a new trial. The Court's opined that defense counsel should have been more focused on this testimony since premeditation and deliberation were key to the prosecution's case and key to the jury. The Court called such ineffective representation a "substantial error."
Death-row case overturned
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