RICHEY CASE Time line

Key dates in the Ohio death penalty case against U.S.-British citizen Kenneth Richey:

June 30, 1986: Two-year-old Cynthia Collins, who lived with her mother in an apartment above Richey’s former girlfriend, dies in a fire in Columbus Grove, Ohio.

1987: Richey is sentenced to die after being convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated arson, child endangering and breaking and entering. Authorities say he set the fire to target his former girlfriend and her new boyfriend, who both escaped.

1992: State courts uphold his conviction in the beginning of a series of rejected appeals.

2005: The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Cincinnati overturns Richey’s conviction and sentence in January; the U.S. Supreme Court in November tells the appeals court its decision was flawed and sends the case back to that court.

Aug. 10, 2007: 6th Circuit again rules that Richey should get a new trial or be freed in 90 days.

Aug. 27, 2007: Richey’s attorney says the state intends to retry his client rather than appealing the 6th Circuit decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Source: Associated Press