Appeals Court Vacates Life Sentence In Murder Of Baseball Player

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals Friday vacated a sentence of life without parole for Chancey Luna who was convicted in the murder of East Central University baseball player Christopher Lane.

Luna was convicted of first-degree murder in the August 2013 fatal shooting of Lane. Lane was jogging down a road in Duncan when Luna fired a deadly shot from the backseat of a black Ford Focus.

Related Story 4/17/15: Chancey Luna Found Guilty Of First Degree Murder Of Australian Athlete, Apologizes

Luna’s defense team argued his sentence violated his constitutional rights, saying Luna was only 16-year-old at the time of the killing.

The case will be sent to district court for re-sentencing. 

Stephens County District Attorney Jason Hicks reacted to the court's decision Friday afternoon. 

“While we are disappointed in the decision, we will abide by it and move forward,” said Hicks.  “We are confident in our evidence and look forward to once again presenting it to a jury.”