USA - Florida. The Florida Supreme Court granted a new penalty phase in the case of Rodney Lowe

The Florida Supreme Court upheld the murder conviction but granted a new penalty phase in the case of Rodney Lowe. Lowe, 38, black, was convicted in Indian River County in April 1991 of the July 1990 attempted armed robbery and the 1st-degree murder of 30-year-old Donna Burnell. The Court was troubled by what Lowe's appeal attorney said was the discovery of evidence after trial that Lowe may not have acted alone. The new findings could influence a different outcome of the penalty phase of the trial. (see also March 18, 2005)