the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges ruled 2-1 that William Garner...

the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges ruled 2-1 that William Garner must be released or retried because his constitutional rights were violated when his confession was used at trial. According to the Court, Garner didn't understand his right to silence when he told police he would waive his Miranda rights against self-incrimination. He gave a taped statement to police, saying he set fire to an apartment with six children inside to destroy evidence of his burglary, according to court records. Garner told police he thought the children would be awakened by the smoke and escape, according to court records. Only one child survived, and Garner, now 34, was convicted of 5 counts of aggravated murder in the January 25, 1992 fire, along with arson and other charges. On November 1992 he was sentenced to death. The Court wrote that evidence showed that Garner, 19 at the time of the statement, was poorly educated and had low intelligence and other limitations directly related to understanding and comprehending his rights. Expert testimony also showed that Garner didn't understand the word "right" or his right to remain silent, their opinion stated. "Thus, admission of his statement at trial was unconstitutional," the opinion stated. The judges granted Garner's request for habeas corpus, which protects inmates from unlawful imprisonment, and ordered his release in 180 days unless the state sets a new trial. The state could ask for the case to be heard by all 14 appeals court judges or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.