Law student helps 'killer' overturn murder conviction

A University of Kansas (KU) law student, Abby West, has helped overturn a murder conviction.

Kimberly Sharp, convicted of the 2006 murder of one David Owen, has had her conviction upturned through West's work under the Project for Innocence.

West, who was the project's lead researcher said she is very happy for the success.

“To be able to help someone out like this is a really unique experience that not a lot of people get to have while in law school,” she said.

Student Pulse gathered that authorities had on July 2, 2006, found Owen's corpse near the Kansas River and had convicted Sharp and sentenced her to life in prison.

The Director for Project For Innocence at KU, Jean Phillips, said a federal appeals court threw out Sharp’s conviction last week following Wests' work.

“It was a long, hard-fought battle," Phillips said.

"Those cases are not won very often.

“They are rarely granted, as a matter of fact.”

Sharp is however still in prison until the Shawnee County District Attorney and Kansas Attorney General's Office decide whether to retry her case.