A man convicted of killing his girlfriend’s young son in Etowah County is getting a new trial.

Kevin Towles has been on death row since 2009, but  a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court is giving him another chance. The Court said on Friday Towles’ capital murder conviction and death sentence should be overturned.  The reasoning the court cited was improper testimony at his trial.

Towles was convicted in 2009 for beating 5-year-old Geontae Glass to death. Geontae was the son of Towles’ girlfriend, Shalinda Glass. Investigators say Towles killed Geontae in 2006 for bringing home a bad school report.

Prosecutors say Geontae’s mother did nothing to stop the beating.

Towles’ 15-year-old son testified at the trial about how his father hit him and struck him with an electric fan. It’s that testimony the Court cited in ruling Towles should get a new trial.  The Court says that testimony created undue prejudice toward Towles.

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals reached the same conclusion last year.  State prosecutors had asked the Supreme Court to review this case.

Towles’ girlfriend, Shalinda Glass, pleaded guilty to her son’s murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Source; WHNT TV 19