the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned the death sentence of Wayne Lee Bates.

the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned the death sentence of Wayne Lee Bates. 
The Court said Bates, now 46, is due a new sentencing phase of his trial. However, the appeals court in Cincinnati did not overturn Bates' conviction for the July 23, 1986 murder of Julie Guida, 28. According to the appellate court, prosecutors in the case prejudiced the jury when one of them referred to Bates as a "rabid dog" during the initial sentencing hearing.
The appellate ruling means Bates will be returned to Coffee County, where a new jury will be empaneled to hear only the sentencing phase of the trial.