Metro Briefs

VIRGINIA

RICHMOND

Court grants appeal in rape-murder case

The Virginia Supreme Court will hear arguments later this year in the case of a man who had his conviction overturned in the 1997 rape and murder of a woman in Norfolk.

A three-judge panel on Friday granted the hearing on the state’s appeal of a Norfolk Circuit Court ruling that overturned Derek Tice’s conviction.

Mr. Tice, Joseph Dick Jr. and Danial Williams were convicted in the July 1997 stabbing and strangulation of Michelle Moore-Bosko, 18, in her apartment. A fourth man, Eric Wilson, was convicted of rape but acquitted of murder. He was released in September 2005 after 8 years in prison.

All four men are seeking to overturn their convictions.

In November, Circuit Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. ruled that Mr. Tice had ineffective trial lawyers because they should have sought to suppress his confession to police. Attorneys have said a detective told the suspects that they would face the death penalty if they did not acknowledge guilt.

Forensic evidence — including DNA — has failed to link any of the men to the crime scene.

Mr. Tice remains imprisoned during his appeal. State attorneys said he will be retried if Judge Martin’s finding is upheld on appeal.

Mrs. Moore-Bosko’s husband found her body in their apartment when he returned from Navy deployment.

MARYLAND

Groups challenge ICC air impact

Two environmental groups yesterday asked the federal Department of Transportation to withdraw its approval of the Intercounty Connector (ICC), saying soot emitted by traffic will violate federal air-quality standards.

The Sierra Club and Environmental Defense say that the 18-mile highway across central Montgomery County into northern Prince George’s County will lead to health risks for children and others who live nearby.

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