NEW YORK – An appeals court says a groundbreaking case misapplied a New York state anti-terrorism law to a killing that reflected "ordinary street crime, not terrorism."
The ruling Tuesday lessens the severity of Edgar Morales' 2007 conviction on charges including manslaughter. It calls for him to be resentenced.
He's serving 40 years to life in prison. The ruling eliminates the possibility of a life term.
The Bronx District Attorney's office said Wednesday it's reviewing the ruling. A lawyer for Morales says he feels vindicated.
Morales had been convicted in a gang-related Bronx shooting that killed a 10-year-old bystander.
His case marked a novel use of the 2001 law. It says some crimes can be considered terrorism if they're intended to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population."
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