Oklahoma Death Row Inmates Get New Trials

A federal appeals court has ordered a new trial for two death row inmates convicted of killing a 14-year-old girl in southeast Oklahoma City in 1993.

Friday, March 27th 2009, 10:34 am

By: News 9

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY - A federal appeals court has ordered a new trial for two death row inmates convicted of killing a 14-year-old girl in southeast Oklahoma City in 1993.

A three-judge panel from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled Thursday that Yancy Douglas and Paris Powell should get a new trial.

The court cited prosecutorial misconduct, saying a key witness in the case was unreliable and only testified after being offered help on a drug charge.

Yancy and Douglas were convicted of killing Shauna Farrow during a drive-by shooting on June 24, 1993.

Former prosecutor Brad Miller maintains he did nothing wrong and says the witness only recanted because he feared retribution from gang members loyal to Douglas and Powell.