in Jefferson City, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned 5-2 the death sentence of Brandon Hutchison.

in Jefferson City, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned 5-2 the death sentence of Brandon Hutchison. The court said Hutchison's conviction stands, but ordered a new hearing to determine his sentence. Hutchison's attorneys had argued his trial counsel was ineffective, and the court agreed. In particular, the court took issue with his defense attorneys not presenting evidence of his "impaired intellectual functioning". The Supreme Court said Hutchison's lawyers should have presented evidence of his mental-health problems, sexual abuse and other social and emotional issues. Hutchison was convicted in October 1996 of 2 counts of 2st-degree murder in the Decembre 31st 1996 deaths of Ronald Yates, 35, and Brian Yates, 30.