Convicted murderer Bobby Lee Harris is moving off death row

Convicted murderer Bobby Lee Harris is moving off death row. He now faces life in prison, not execution. His new sentence ends a lengthy legal battle. Harris confessed to the 1991 killing of John Redd. Harris was one of 26 death row inmates featured in anti-death penalty ads ("We on death row") by clothing maker Benetton. On October 22, 2001a Superior Court judge vacated the original death sentence for Harris because 1 judge presided over Harris' trial and a new judge was in charge during the sentencing portion. In addition, the trial jury was dismissed "without good cause" and replaced with a 2nd jury that was "without authority to hear the penalty phase of the trial," the ruling stated. The law provides that every criminal trial shall be conducted in one session of court, by 1 judge and 1 jury.