JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a new trial for Walter Tard.
Tard was convicted of armed robbery in Madison County in 2009.
Tard was found guilty of the holdup of the Drury Inn in Ridgeland in 2007. He was sentenced to 45 years with 10 years suspended. Prosecutors say the clerk at the hotel identified Tard from a photo lineup.
The state Court of Appeals upheld Tard’s conviction in February.
Tard argued in his appeal that his confession to authorities was involuntary. The Appeals Court said the trial judge viewed portions of the video of Tard’s police interview and found nothing to support Tard’s argument.
The Supreme Court said the trial judge failed to show in the court record why he denied Tard’s motion to suppress his interrogation.
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