Judge frees man convicted of killing NY rabbi


March 21, 2013 at 3:24p.m.

Judge frees man convicted of killing NY rabbi

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has freed a man convicted in the 1990 killing of a Brooklyn rabbi.

David Ranta’s murder conviction was vacated today with the support of prosecutors.

Rabbi Chaskel Werzberger was shot on Feb. 8, 1990, by a man fleeing a botched robbery. Thousands attended the funeral for the Hasidic rabbi.

A recent review by the Brooklyn district attorney’s office cast doubt on witness testimony and concluded detectives had mishandled aspects of the investigation.

The 58-year Ranta has been serving time in a Buffalo prison.