In Little Rock, the state Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing hearing for Michael B. Daniels.

In Little Rock, the state Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the capital murder conviction of Michael B. Daniels, but ruled that the man should not have been convicted of aggravated robbery for trying to recover money lost in a card game. The state's highest court overturned Daniels' aggravated robbery conviction and ordered a new sentencing hearing. Daniels, now 47, was convicted of capital murder and aggravated robbery in the Jan. 8, 2006, stabbing death of James Williams, 52. According to testimony and videotape presented at Daniels' trial in Bradley County Circuit Court in Feb. 2007, Daniels stabbed Williams at least three times while the men fought following a card game. Defense attorneys said Daniels became angry after Williams cheated him in a game of three-card monte. Prosecutors said there was no evidence that Williams cheated in the game. Daniels, now 47, argued on appeal that he should not have been convicted of aggravated robbery because he was trying not to rob Williams but to take back $20 he lost in a card game. He cited the state Supreme Court's ruling in the 1940 case Davidson v. State that a person cannot be convicted of robbery for trying to retake money lost gambling.