Man removed from North Carolina’s death row set to go free

RALEIGH (AP) — A man who spent 13 years on North Carolina’s death row is set to become the state’s eighth man to be spared execution after charges against him were dropped.

Prosecutor Dewey Hudson told The News & Observer of Raleigh that he will ask a judge on Friday to drop all charges against Levon “Bo” Jones and let him go.

Jones had been sentenced to die for the death of Leamon Grady, who was robbed and shot in his home in 1987.

In 2006, a federal judge overturned the conviction after declaring Jones’ rights had been violated because of poor attorney performance.

Jones has been in prison awaiting a new trial, set to begin May 12.

North Carolina’s death penalty has been on hold while capital punishment is examined.

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Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)