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Appeals Court Overturns Murder Conviction In Long Beach Store Clerk's Death

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court says dismissal of a juror was improper and it has overturned the murder conviction of a California woman for the 1993 shooting death of a Long Beach liquor store clerk.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco says in a 3-0 decision Monday that Tara Williams was denied her right to a fair trial because the judge improperly dismissed the lone juror holdout for acquittal after interrogating him during deliberations.

The San Francisco Chronicle says Williams was 20 years old when she drove a car with two friends in October 1993 looking for a store to rob. One of her friends got out at a liquor store, robbed the clerk and shot him to death.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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