Tennessee Supreme Court orders new child rape trial

Tennessee Supreme Court
Tennessee Supreme Court
photo Tennessee Supreme Court

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court has overturned the child rape conviction of a man sentenced to 25 years in prison for repeatedly abusing a child.

The ruling by the state's highest court says there was enough evidence for Frederick Herron to be convicted, but the mistakes made at the Shelby County trial warranted that he be retried because they have a cumulative effect of being prejudicial.

The opinion said prosecutors never should have shown the jury video footage of the alleged victim being interviewed by the police. She testified as well at the trial.

The ruling also said the lower court was wrong to rule that Herron would have to tell the jury about any prior arrests if he testified. Herron did not testify in his own defense afterward.

Upcoming Events