|
|
Article: Newport News judge orders new trial because of informant witness.(Originated from Newport News Daily Press)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- June 25, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. _ A Newport News circuit judge has ordered a new trial for a man convicted last year of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 78 years.
Judge Robert Curran said Nathaniel Pierce should get a new trial because his lawyer was not told that a key prosecution witness was an informant for the Newport News Police Department.
Pierce's lawyer fought for a new trial not only because the man was an informant but also because he says the man is not credible.
The witness's credibility has been suspect since 1995, when he was involved in a Newport News drug case involving two former Hampton police officers. That case was ...