Legal blunders lead to release of serial killer in US

The Observer reports Coral Watts, who was caught in 1982 after one of his victims escaped, murdered at least 13 women and is suspected of being involved in the deaths of dozens of others. He is expected to be released in April 2006 as a result of a series of legal blunders. When Watts was arrested he struck a deal with prosecutors who could find little forensic evidence to link him with the murders. He confessed to 13 murders in exchange for being charged only with aggravated burglary, which carried a sentence of 60 years without parole. However, an Appeal Court ruling in 1989 said a legal technicality meant his sentence would be reduced for good behaviour. Then Texas passed mandatory early release laws to cut the state\'s huge prison population. As Watts had never been convicted of a violent crime, his 60-year sentence had 34 years automatically lopped off. Now he must be released, and there can be no appeal by the police or Justice Department. Keeping Watts off the streets now depends on a trial that began last week in Michigan in which a witness says he saw Watts stab a woman. If they can convict him then Watts could receive a new life sentence. Full report in The Observer