NEW ORLEANS, March 8 (UPI) -- A judge in New Orleans, citing prosecutorial errors, Monday ordered a new trial for a man convicted of killing five teenagers in 2006.
Michael Anderson, 23, was convicted in August of five counts of murder and sentenced to death for killing five teens on a New Orleans street corner. In January, prosecutors gave Anderson's lawyers a 2007 videotape of the sole witness against Anderson, in which the witness places herself at the shooting scene after 6 a.m., after the killings had occurred, defense lawyers said.
Prosecutors, who called the information irrelevant, said they didn't remember they had the tape until it surfaced while they were preparing to move to new offices, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.
Criminal District Judge Lynda Van Davis said Monday prosecutors violated rules in Anderson's trial.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro told reporters at a news conference Monday Anderson received a fair trial. He said prosecutors will pursue appeals of the judge's ruling -- and will take the case to trial again if necessary to send Anderson to death row.
"Today, he is still a murderer," Cannizzaro said. "(Davis' ruling) cannot change that."
