BOSTON (AP) - The highest court in Massachusetts has granted a new sentencing hearing to a Boston man convicted of murder when he was 16, citing its recent ruling that sentencing juveniles to life without parole is unconstitutional.
The Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday tossed out the life sentence given to Charon Ray. Ray was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2004 killing of 14-year-old Dakeem Galloway. The court ruled in December that it is unconstitutional under the state and federal constitutions to sentence juveniles to life without parole.
After the ruling, a group of state legislators filed a bill that would require juveniles convicted of murder to serve at least 35 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
The SJC upheld Ray’s conviction, but sent the case back to Superior Court for a new sentencing hearing.
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