High court reopens death-row inmate's case

— The Arkansas Supreme Court says the case of a death-row inmate convicted of killing his 12-year-old niece ought to be reopened.

The high court Thursday granted Karl Roberts’ request to reopen his case.

Roberts was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1999 slaying of 12-year-old Andria Nichole Brewer in Hatfield.

He initially waived his rights to appeal, but changed his mind hours before he was to be put to death during a planned double execution in 2004.

The high court said Thursday that it previously failed to ensure that Roberts was competent to waive his rights to appeal.

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