the New Jersey Supreme Court vacated 6-1 the murder conviction...

the New Jersey Supreme Court vacated 6-1 the murder conviction and death sentence of Donald Loftin, finding that the trial judge should have removed a juror who appeared to be biased.
The court found that juror predetermined that Loftin was guilty.
Despite what the high court called "overwhelming evidence" that Loftin killed gas station worker Gary Marsh on May 5, 1992, he will get a new trial because the judge did not question other jurors to ensure that none had been tainted, the state's highest court ruled.
In New Jersey, where the Legislature is considering a bill that would abolish the death penalty. New Jersey reinstated the death penalty in 1982 but hasn't executed anyone since 1963. The Legislature imposed an execution moratorium in December 2005 when it formed a commission to study the death penalty.
Loftin, 41, is 1 of 9 inmates being held on death row at New Jersey State Prison.
He was sentenced to death in 1994 of murdering Marsh.