USA - Alabama. William Ziegler, 39, Black, walked out the Mobile County Metro Jail.

William Ziegler, 39, Black, walked out the Mobile County Metro Jail. Ziegler is the second death row inmate to do so this month. Ziegler's murder conviction had been overturned but, threatened with a retrial, he struck plea deal on lesser charge of aiding and abetting. He had been awaiting execution since his conviction in 2001 for 2000 the slaying of Russell Allen Baker. Mobile County Circuit Judge Sarah Stewart overturned Ziegler’s conviction in 2012, indicating there were numerous errors and serious doubts about his guilt. Stewart had granted Ziegler the right to a new trial after finding that his defense lawyer failed to adequately represent him, prosecutors failed to reveal a witness recanted his testimony and a juror lied when asked about his views on the death penalty. Ziegler acknowledged that his conduct helped lead to Baker's death. Judge Stewart sentenced him to the 15 years he had already been incarcerated, which allowed him to be released. Another man sentenced to be executed in Alabama, Anthony Ray Hinton, 58, was freed on April 3 after nearly 30 years on death row.