Yarris Conviction and Death Sentence to be Vacated

Delaware County pros­e­cu­tors and defense attor­neys for Nicholas James Yarris have joint­ly asked the court to vacate his 1982 cap­i­tal con­vic­tion after DNA test­ing showed that Yarris was not the source of evi­dence found on the body of the vic­tim. While pros­e­cu­tors have the option of retry­ing Yarris, defense attor­neys note that they are ​“not aware of any evi­dence in Nick’s case” that is strong enough to war­rant a new tri­al. If pros­e­cu­tors decline to retry the case, it is expect­ed that Yarris will be freed, mak­ing him Pennsylvania’s first death row exoneree based on DNA evi­dence. (Philadelphia Inquirer, August 27, 2003). Read Federal Defender’s press release. See Previous What’s New Item on Nicholas Yarris and Innocence.