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| Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 |
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NC judge commutes 3 deaths sentences; cites biasBy MICHAEL BIESECKER FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge has commuted the death sentences of three convicted killers, including two who killed law enforcement officers, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Weeks ruled Thursday that race played an unjust role in jury selection at their trials. The three who had their sentences commuted were among the most notorious killers on North Carolina's death row. Two had killed law enforcement officers. Family members of the victims and more than 60 uniformed police officers packed the courtroom. Before Weeks could finish, the brother of a murdered state trooper stood up and yelled an expletive at the judge, who is black. The Republican-controlled Legislature recently scaled back the state's Racial Justice Act, on which Thursday's ruling was based. 2012-12-13 21:38:15 GMT |
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