Convicted Murderer Stays Free

ST. LOUIS (AP) – A Missouri appeals court has refused to overturn an order that freed a St. Louis man who spent nearly 30 years in prison for the 1982 slaying of a St. Louis woman.The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports a three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected Attorney General Chris Koster’s appeal of a ruling last month that freed 56-year-old George Allen.Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green in November faulted city police for failing to turn over evidence to prosecutors and conducting a deeply flawed interrogation of Allen.Green voided Allen’s convictions for rape, murder, sodomy and burglary in the death of 31-year-old Mary Bell.Koster’s office says it will not appeal further, and St. Louis prosecutors say they won’t retry Allen.