Federal Judge Norman Roettger has ordered a new evidentiary...

Federal Judge Norman Roettger has ordered a new evidentiary hearing for Florida Death Row inmate Billy Kelley, convicted in 1984 for the 1966 murder of wealthy citrus rancher Von Maxcy. It is scheduled to take place on April 24 in Boston, where most of the witnesses live. The sole evidence against Kelley: the testimony of John Sweet, who was facing jail time for drug deals. In exchange for his testimony, Sweet received immunity from prosecution. But when the Kelley jury asked for clarification on Sweet's immunity deal, the prosecutor said no deal had been made. On the strength of the prosecutor's words about Sweet and the absence of an immunity deal, the jury found Kelley guilty. Kelley has been on Florida's death row at Raiford ever since. Eight years after receiving a 1992 petition for a new evidentiary hearing for Kelley and 34 years after the murder, Roettger has agreed to grant a hearing to look at the evidence.