The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has allowed for an appeal to a see if a recent ruling on second degree murder is retroactive.
In March, the State Supreme Court ruled the life in prison was cruel and unusual punishment. At the time of the ruling many were unsure how the decision would impact previous sentencings.
Now, someone convicted of second-degree murder is looking to be resentenced. Currently in Pennsylvania more than 1,100 people are serving life sentences without parole.
The appeal will rehash a 1994 killing, where a key witness and no physical evidence connected Jerome Coffey to a killing. Coffey was convicted of second-degree murder and has been imprisoned for 33 years.
Many law makers and attorney general has called on the general assembly to redefine sentencing guidelines for second degree murder to prevent a back log of appeals.
