In St

In St. Louis, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol has overturned the conviction of a death row inmate who pleaded guilty to murdering 2 men. The federal judge ruled that Robert Shafer's decision not to have legal representation when he pleaded guilty was not made "knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily." Lawrence also ruled that the judge who sentenced Shafer to death in 1993 failed to consider mitigating circumstances. The state must retry Shafer within 60 days or release him.