Ill. Court Orders New Trial for Man in 1980 Murder

An Illinois appeals court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted in the 1980 rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl based on new DNA evidence.

The Fourth District Appellate Court reversed a trial court judgment that denied a new trial for 50-year-old Andre Davis.

Davis is serving an 80-year prison sentence after being convicted twice in the death of Brianna Stickle in Rantoul.

At Davis' request, DNA testing was conducted within the last few years that wasn't available at the time of the crime.

The court noted in its opinion this week that none of the evidence was a DNA match for Davis.

Davis is represented by the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University's law school.