in a 4-3 ruling, the New Jersey Supreme Court vacated Anthony DiFrisco's death sentence...

in a 4-3 ruling, the New Jersey Supreme Court vacated Anthony DiFrisco's death sentence and sent the case back to trial court so he can be sentenced to life in prison. The successful appeal centered on complex procedural issues involving the type and timing of reviews afforded in capital cases.
DiFrisco, now 45,  was arrested in 1988 by New York City police for receiving a stolen car. They told him he might help himself if he had information about a more serious crime. He told them he shot Edward Potcher on Aug. 12, 1986, saying he was paid $2,500 by Jack Franciotti because he was going to inform police about illegal activities by Franciotti. The court records, however, say DiFrisco then backed out of a plan to call Franciotti to tape record a conversation implicating him in the murder. An Essex County grand jury subsequently indicted DiFrisco for murder.