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Verdict overturned for Pa. boy accused of murder

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PITTSBURGH (AP) – An appeals court has overturned the guilty verdict against a 15-year-old Western Pennsylvania boy who allegedly killed his father’s pregnant fiancee and her unborn child when he was 11.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court opinion issued Wednesday says that Jordan Brown’s conviction was “plainly contrary to the evidence” and that the case should go back to Lawrence County juvenile court.

A judge had ruled in April 2012 that Brown was guilty in the 2009 deaths of 26-year-old Kenzie Houk and her unborn son. Houk was shot in the back of the head with Brown’s .20-gauge youth model shotgun.

The boy’s lawyer, Stephen Colafella, says the defense team is “pleased but not shocked” with the new ruling. Colafella says they always felt there was insufficient evidence against Brown.

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