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THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2002

The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the death sentence of a South Carolina man convicted of murdering a pregnant woman, saying a jury was not informed properly of sentencing options.

In a 5-4 decision split along liberal-conservative lines, the Court said the jury should have been told William A. Kelly could have been sent to jail without the possibility of ever getting out. Justice David Souter wrote for the majority.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist authored a dissent, which was joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Justice Clarence Thomas authored another, joined by Justice Antonin Scalia.

Get the Case KELLY V. SOUTH CAROLINA (00-9280):
Syllabus | Opinion | Dissent [Rehnquist] | Dissent [Thomas]

Get the Story:
High Court Reaffirms 'Truth in Sentencing' (The Washington Post 1/10)
Justices Chide South Carolina in a Death Sentence, Again (The New York Times 1/10)
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