PHOENIX, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- An Arizona judge ruled Debra Milke, in custody for 24 years, can be released on bond, pending a retrial of her murder case.
Milke, 49, and two accomplices were sent to Arizona's death row for the 1989 shooting death of Milke's 4-year-old son Christopher.
In March, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out her conviction and death sentence because the prosecution had failed to turn over evidence regarding the Phoenix police detective who claimed she had confessed.
Milke denied a confession, and the detective, Armando Saldate, did not record the alleged confession and no witnesses were present, the (Phoenix) Arizona Republic reported Friday.
On Thursday Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Rosa Mroz ruled Milke was free to leave prison, pending a secured bond of $250,000 and restrictions on her movement.
Milke has a following of people who believe she is innocent, including in Europe, where she has family, the newspaper noted.
Her supporters will put up bond money and provide her with a house until the legal process is resolved, her attorneys said at an Aug. 30 hearing.
