Spartanburg jury will consider Cherokee case

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — A judge has ordered a Spartanburg County jury to consider a 25-year-old Cherokee County death penalty case.

The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reported that Circuit Judge Mark Hayes has ordered the Spartanburg County clerk of court to select 250 potential jurors for an Oct. 17 trial for Ernest Riddle.

Riddle has been sentenced to die three times for the death of Abbie Sue Mullinax. His lawyers had asked that the trial be moved.

Riddle’s brother, Jason, told police he and his brother went to her home in 1985 and stole money before Ernest Riddle killed her. Jason Riddle is serving a life prison sentence.

The state Supreme Court in 2006 granted Riddle a new trial because prosecutors never told his attorneys about an interview with Riddle’s brother.

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Information from: Herald-Journal, http://www.goupstate.com/