MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Supreme Court says a man convicted of the 1997 murders of his girlfriend and her toddler son is entitled to a new trial because of jury misconduct.
In an opinion Friday, the justices wrote that two jurors did not disclose pertinent information during jury’s selection at Larry Dunaway’s trial in Barbour County.
Justices said one juror did not disclose that a close family member had recently been the victim of an attempted murder. Another juror did not disclose that the prosecutor had represented her in a custody dispute.
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Dunaway was convicted of shooting Tressa Patterson to death and then setting her mobile home on fire, killing her 22-month-old son, James. He received a death sentence.
Justices said Dunaway was accused of horrendous crimes but still deserved a fair trial.
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