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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2001

A federal judge on Tuesday threw out the death penalty sentence of an African-American man who shot and killed a police officer in Pennsylvania.

U.S. District Judge William Yohn upheld the murder conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a journalist and former Black Panther. But he said Abu-Jamal must receive a new sentence because the jury had not been properly instructed when he had been sent to death row.

A new sentence must be made within 180 days or Abu-Jamal's term will be converted to life in prison, said the judge.

The state plans on appealing the ruling.

Get the Story:
Judge Overturns Death Sentence of Phila. Cop Killer (The Washington Post 12/19)
Death Sentence Overturned in 1981 Killing of Officer (The New York Times 12/19)
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