JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Attorneys for a St. Louis man whose 1983 rape and murder convictions were recently thrown out by a Missouri judge say they expect his release from prison on Wednesday.
George Allen Jr. was sentenced to 95 years behind bars in the 1982 death of 31-year-old Mary Bell. A Cole County judge overturned that conviction on Nov. 2 and ordered Allen's release.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce has said she won't retry Allen, but Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is appealing Judge Dan Green's ruling to the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals.
Green has scheduled hearing Wednesday morning in Jefferson City. Lawyers with the New York-based Innocence Project say the judge has indicated he plans to release Allen pending the state's appeal.