DNA evidence leads to dropped murder charge in 1998 slaying

DNA evidence leads to dropped murder charge in 1998 slaying

BALTIMORE (AP) — A man who was has been in prison for about 18 years after he was convicted in the 1998 stabbing death of a 16-year-old girl is expected to be released this week after new tests showed that DNA on the victim's T-shirt did not match his.

In light of the new DNA test, attorneys for Bryant asked for a new trial and, with no objection from prosecutors, a Baltimore Circuit Court judge granted the motion.

During the hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Lauren Lipscomb said the State's Attorney's Office had reopened the investigation earlier this year, and investigators had interviewed the initial eye witness and several of Bryant's alibi witnesses, as well as reviewed the new DNA test results.

[...] detectives in charge of administering the photos are not informed about the suspect in the array.