The Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of...

The Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Gerald Young, though his murder conviction was upheld. Young's death sentence was overturned by a 6-1 decision. Justice William Cooper said there were none of the aggravating circumstances involved that would have made Young eligible for a death sentence. Young, 29, was found guilty of the murder of Osama Shalash in Lexington in June 1997. The court ordered Young returned to Fayette County, where a new sentencing jury must be told the maximum penalty he can face is life in prison. The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the death sentence of Larry Osborne, now 21. The court said Osborne was improperly convicted and sentenced because of an error in the trial that allowed improper testimony from a witness who had died. Osborne was given 2 death sentences for killing Sam Davenport, 82, and his wife, Lillian, 76. The court's unanimous ruling was that testimony amounted to hearsay. The case was sent back to Whitley County for a new trial.