USA - California. The California Supreme Court tossed out the murder conviction of Fred Lewis Weatherton

The California Supreme Court has unanimously tossed out the 2002 murder conviction and death penalty sentence of Fred Lewis Weatherton, 65, Black, because of juror misconduct. According to the court's opinion, a juror referred to as "P.P." told fellow panelists that he thought Weatherton was guilty before the trial was over, and talked about the case outside of deliberations, both of which are forbidden. Weatherton was convicted of shooting to death Latonya Roberson, 33, and Samuel Ortiz, 43, during a Nov. 1, 1998 robbery. A 3rd person, Nelva Bell, was seriously wounded identified Weatherton as the shooter.