Pa. Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence Of 'Greensburg 6' Member
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The state Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence for a convicted member of the so-called "Greensburg 6."
The justices say an error forced them to vacate the sentence of 27-year-old Melvin Knight.
He pleaded guilty in the 2010 in connection with the murder and torture of a Greensburg woman with mental disabilities.
The error involved a failure to instruct the jury that Knight's lack of a criminal record should be considered a mitigating factor against the death penalty.
A new jury will now be chosen to again consider whether Knight should be executed.
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The other suspects in the case are also in jail.
Ricky Smyrnes also received the death penalty in the case. Angela Marinucci is serving life in prison after being convicted in May of 2011.
The others – Amber Meidinger, Robert Masters and Peggy Miller – are all serving lengthy prison sentences.
