Delay denied in case of ex-SC death row inmate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has denied South Carolina prosecutors’ request to delay a new trial for an inmate who spent nearly three decades on death row until justices can review an appellate decision tossing his conviction.

Chief Justice John Roberts on Friday turned down state Attorney General Alan Wilson’s request. Now, state prosecutors will need to work simultaneously on their federal appeal and a new trial for Edward Lee Elmore, if local prosecutors pursue one.

In November, a federal appeals court tossed Elmore’s conviction in the murder of Dorothy Edwards, saying trial attorneys failed to challenge evidence that could have exonerated him.

Elmore spent 28 years on death row until a judge in 2010 ruled him mentally unfit to be executed. Another judge sentenced him to life in prison.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP