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Court throws out conviction in controversial death sentence
Source: Associated Press
Court throws out conviction in controversial death sentence
By REBECCA SANTANA
Nov. 16, 2016 6:09 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out the conviction and death sentence of a man whose case drew national attention to the state's use of the death penalty.
In its decision , the court said it was sending the case of Rodricus Crawford back to a lower court for a new trial, citing racial discrimination issues in the prosecution's picking of jurors.
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The case put Caddo Parish and former District Attorney Dale Cox in the spotlight over the use of the death penalty. The Death Penalty Information Center included Caddo Parish in a 2013 report about how 2 percent of U.S. counties were responsible for 56 percent of the people on death row.
The Crawford case has drawn particular scrutiny, with defense attorneys and Crawford's supporters arguing there's no proof a crime even occurred.
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By REBECCA SANTANA
Nov. 16, 2016 6:09 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out the conviction and death sentence of a man whose case drew national attention to the state's use of the death penalty.
In its decision , the court said it was sending the case of Rodricus Crawford back to a lower court for a new trial, citing racial discrimination issues in the prosecution's picking of jurors.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
The case put Caddo Parish and former District Attorney Dale Cox in the spotlight over the use of the death penalty. The Death Penalty Information Center included Caddo Parish in a 2013 report about how 2 percent of U.S. counties were responsible for 56 percent of the people on death row.
The Crawford case has drawn particular scrutiny, with defense attorneys and Crawford's supporters arguing there's no proof a crime even occurred.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1ca217d046044d449bfd2a036c9eb69d/court-throws-out-conviction-controversial-death-sentence