Murder Conviction Overturned; Yurko Goes Free

POSTED: Friday, August 27, 2004

UPDATED: 6:06 pm EDT August 27, 2004

A father serving a life sentence for shaking his baby to death is a free man Friday night after an Orange County judge overturned his 1999 conviction, according to Local 6 News.

Alan Yurko pleaded no contest to manslaughter Friday night and Orange Count Circuit Court Judge Alan Lawson threw out his prior conviction.

Lawson then sentenced him to time served and set Yurko free.

A filled Orange County courthouse erupted in applause after Lawson announced Yurko would be set free.

The judge said an error-filled autopsy report performed by former Orange County Medical Examiner Shasi Gore is why the he overturned the conviction.

Yurko has claimed his son died from severe medical problems and not child abuse.

He had been serving a life sentence in Central Florida until Friday.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Previous Stories:

August 25, 2004: Yurko Continues To Fight For New Trial
May 10, 2003: Dad Convicted Of Baby's Death Blames Vaccines

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Murder Conviction Overturned; Yurko Goes Free

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