This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23997252
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Arizona death row mother Debra Milke released | Arizona death row mother Debra Milke released |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A US woman who spent more than two decades on death row after being convicted of murdering her son has been released because of a lack of evidence. | A US woman who spent more than two decades on death row after being convicted of murdering her son has been released because of a lack of evidence. |
Debra Milke was found guilty in Arizona state of the 1989 shooting of her four-year-old boy, who was allegedly killed for a $5,000 (£3,200) insurance payout. | Debra Milke was found guilty in Arizona state of the 1989 shooting of her four-year-old boy, who was allegedly killed for a $5,000 (£3,200) insurance payout. |
Milke, 49, allegedly confessed to a detective whose credibility has since been questioned. | Milke, 49, allegedly confessed to a detective whose credibility has since been questioned. |
She will remain on bail as prosecutors mount a new trial. | She will remain on bail as prosecutors mount a new trial. |
Milke, then a 25-year-old insurance company clerk, was accused of dressing her son in his favourite outfit and telling him he was going to see Santa Claus at the mall. | Milke, then a 25-year-old insurance company clerk, was accused of dressing her son in his favourite outfit and telling him he was going to see Santa Claus at the mall. |
She then allegedly handed him over to two men who took the boy to the desert and shot him. | She then allegedly handed him over to two men who took the boy to the desert and shot him. |
Roger Scott and James Styers were both convicted in the case, but neither testified at Milke's trial. | Roger Scott and James Styers were both convicted in the case, but neither testified at Milke's trial. |
A court of appeals overturned her conviction in March this year after questions were raised about a now-retired detective who testified that Milke had confessed the crime to him. | A court of appeals overturned her conviction in March this year after questions were raised about a now-retired detective who testified that Milke had confessed the crime to him. |
He was found to have lied under oath in four later cases and was suspended for accepting sexual favours on the job. | He was found to have lied under oath in four later cases and was suspended for accepting sexual favours on the job. |
Milke's $250,000 bail bond was paid out of money raised by her European supporters. Her German mother has maintained her daughter's innocence. | Milke's $250,000 bail bond was paid out of money raised by her European supporters. Her German mother has maintained her daughter's innocence. |
Donors in Switzerland, where Milke's mother now lives, were reportedly spurred to contribute by doubts over her guilt and opposition to the death penalty. | Donors in Switzerland, where Milke's mother now lives, were reportedly spurred to contribute by doubts over her guilt and opposition to the death penalty. |
Arizona Mark Milke, ex-husband of the accused, told the Associated Press on Friday he believes his former wife is guilty of the crime. | |
Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty again at Milke's retrial, currently set for 30 September. | Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty again at Milke's retrial, currently set for 30 September. |