A federal judge overturned the death penalty of Otis...

A federal judge overturned the death penalty of Otis Peterkin, 52, who was convicted in the Nov. 29, 1981 slayings of John Smith, 50, and Ronald Presbery, 25. Otis Peterkin was condemned to death through a combination of prejudicial statements by the city prosecutor, the trial judge's improper evidentiary rulings, and an ineffective defense lawyer, U.S. District Judge J. Curtis Joyner ruled. Peterkin must be retried within 90 days or else released from prison.