Release is imminent for Missouri man behind bars, days after a judge overturned murder conviction

LOUIS A Missouri man whose 1991 murder conviction was overturned earlier this month appeared to be on the verge of release Tuesday, following a lengthy legal battle with the state's attorney general that extended his stay behind bars.on..

Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser on July 21 tossed out Dunn's conviction, citing evidence of actual innocence..

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a ruling stating that the St. Louis circuit attorney needed to confirm it had no plans to retry Dunn before he could be freed..

But that judge, William Hickle, declined to exonerate Dunn, citing a 2016 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that only death row inmates not those like Dunn, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole could make a freestanding claim of actual innocence..

Appeals by Bailey all the way up to the Missouri Supreme Court kept Hemme imprisoned at the Chillicothe Correctional Center for several days, until a judge on July 19 ordered her immediate release and threatened Bailey with possible contempt of court charges..