In San Antonio, U

In San Antonio, U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson ruled that there is "strong reason" to believe Ernest Ray Willis, 58, is innocent of setting a house fire that killed 2 women, Gail Joe Allison, 25, and 24-year-old Elizabeth Grace Belue. Judge Furgeson has thrown out the death row conviction, ruling that West Texas authorities concealed evidence and needlessly drugged him during his trial in Pecos County. He was convicted in 1987. Defense lawyers later discovered that jailers had treated Willis' back pain with large doses of anti-psychotic drugs, which left him too dazed to meaningfully confer with his attorneys. They also later learned that prosecutors had failed to disclose a psychologist's report saying Willis was not dangerous - a key issue in any death penalty case. Furgeson declared in his ruling that the state's highest criminal court erred when it dismissed these concerns and he echoed the state trial judge, Brock Jones of Ozona, who 4 years ago ruled that Willis never received a fair trial. Willis remains on death row while the state decides whether it will appeal Furgeson's ruling, seek a new trial or set him free. Officials must make a decision by Nov. 18.