Murder conviction remains overturned

DETROIT (AP) - The state has failed to persuade a federal appeals court to reinstate a murder conviction and life sentence against a Detroit-area man. In a 3-0 decision, the appeals court last Wednesday agreed with a Detroit federal judge, who said James Drain's rights were violated at his 2002 trial because too many minorities were removed from the jury pool. Drain was convicted of fatally shooting a woman as she sat in a car in 2001. Prosecutors have said they would put the 36-year-old Drain on trial again if their appeal failed. They also could ask the full appeals court to take another look at the case. Published: Mon, Jan 05, 2015