The California Supreme Court on Monday reversed a Santa Clara County double murderer's death sentence, finding that the prosecution's failure to turn over key evidence tainted his 1987 trial.
In a unanimous ruling, the seven-member court, which seldom overturns California death sentences, ordered a new penalty phase trial for Miguel Bacigalupo, who was sent to death row for the 1983 slayings of two brothers in their San Jose jewelry store. The Supreme Court left Bacigalupo's murder convictions intact, but concluded that prosecutorial misconduct could have altered the jury's death sentence recommendation.