State Supreme Court Removes Cop Killer From Death Row

The Connecticut Supreme Court has upheld the murder convictions of a man who killed a Waterbury police officer in 1992, but has overturned his death sentence because of the court's earlier abolishment of capital punishment.

Justices ruled Friday on the appeal of Richard Reynolds and ordered a lower court to resentence Reynolds to life in prison without the possibility of release.

Reynolds fatally shot Waterbury Officer Walter Williams.

Reynolds' appeal said his public defenders failed to question jurors about racial biases and failed to introduce evidence that Reynolds suffers from an anti-social personality disorder.

The Supreme Court abolished the death penalty last year. One death row inmate, Steven Hayes, has already been resentenced to life in prison. The 10 men remaining on death row also will be resentenced to life.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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