The Nation - News from Feb. 7, 1985
The Illinois Supreme Court threw out the murder conviction of a black Death Row inmate, saying his trial should have been ended after a “scurrilous” racist joke was circulated to some members of the all-white jury. Justices ordered a new trial for William T. Jones, 29, agreeing with defense attorneys that the lower court judge should have declared a mistrial. Jones was convicted of the January, 1982, murder of Margaret Dare and the attempted murder of her husband, James. The justices reversed the convictions in a strongly worded opinion, saying that the trial circumstances were “intolerable” and that Jones was denied a fair trial.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
