Johnson To Get New Trial In Killing Of Phylicia Barnes

A Baltimore judge threw out the murder conviction of a man who was to be sentenced Wednesday in the death of 16-year-old Phylicia Barnes, saying prosecutors withheld information about a key witness from defense attorneys.

Michael Maurice Johnson's second-degree murder conviction last month had appeared to close the book on the 2010 case of the North Carolina girl who disappeared while visiting family in Baltimore.

But Circuit Judge Alfred Nance's ruling will give the 29-year-old another chance to prove his innocence.

Prosecutors said they were "disappointed" in the ruling but planned to retry the case against Johnson, as Barnes' father expressed confidence that he will be convicted again.
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