The State Supreme Court has decided a man on Missouri’s death row for a murder nearly 18 years ago should be released. In a four-three decision, the Court ruled Joseph Amrine is innocent of the murder of Gary Barber in October, 1985. Both Amrine and Barber were prisoners in the state penitentiary in Jefferson City at the time. The Court’s order calls for the conditional release of Amrine within 30 days unless the state elects to file new charges against him in relation to the murder of which he was convicted. A spokesman for the State Supreme Court believes Amrine has already served his time for the offense that sent him to prison in the first place.
