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Warren Jeffs Gets New Trial

POLYGAMIST

"Serious errors" in jury instructions.

Looks like the Utah Supreme Court needs to get its act together: On Tuesday, the court reversed the conviction of the polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs—who's being tried for two counts of rape as an accomplice—and sent back the case for a new trial. The reason: "Serious errors" in instructions given to the jury, which would have deprived Jeffs of a fair hearing. Justices ruled that Fifth District Judge James Shumate had made a mistake when he rejected a request from the defense team to instruct jurors that, in order to convict Jeffs, they must confirm he knew unwanted sex would take place in performing a marriage and that he intended for a rape to occur.

Read it at The Salt Lake Tribune