Miss. high court orders new sentence hearing - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Miss. high court orders new sentence hearing

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Death row inmate Jeffrey Keller Davis has won a new sentencing hearing.

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a 2010 ruling by a Greene County judge denying Davis' post-conviction petition, Davis had argued his trial attorney could have done a better job.

In a post-conviction petition, an inmate argues he has found new evidence - or a possible constitutional issue - that could persuade a court to order a new trial.

In its 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court said Davis presented enough evidence that his attorney's "performance was deficient ... and that such deficiency was prejudicial" to Davis' defense.

Davis was convicted in the death of Linda Hillman. She was shot and stabbed in 1991 at her trailer in Greene County.

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