Judge dismisses murder case against U.S. woman who spent 22 years on death row in son's death

The Canadian Press - Debra Milke, left, sits in court with her attorney, Lori Voepel during a hearing, Monday, March 23, 2015, in Marcopa County Superior Court in Phoenix.

A woman who spent more than two decades on death row for her 4-year-old son's killing saw her murder charge dismissed Monday, bringing an end to a controversial case that relied almost entirely on the work of a detective with a long history of misconduct.

Debra Milke hugged her supporters and sobbed as she left the courtroom, where a judge formally dismissed the case, saying it cannot be tried again. The decision came less than a week after prosecutors lost their final appeal. In a brief hearing, Judge Rosa Mroz also allowed Milke, who has been free on bond since 2013, to have her electronic-monitoring ankle bracelet removed.

Milke emerged from a conference room a short time later without the device.

"It feels good," Milke said, pulling up one pant leg to show her unencumbered ankle.

Milke was convicted of murder in 1990 in the death of her son, Christopher. Authorities say Milke dressed him in his favourite outfit and told him he was going to see Santa Claus at a mall in December 1989. He was then taken to the desert near Phoenix by two men, one of whom was Milke's roommate, and shot in the back of the head.

Authorities say Milke's motive was that she didn't want the child anymore and didn't want him to live with his father. Milke has maintained her innocence and denied that she confessed to the killing. The two men who led her child to his death were convicted of murder but refused to testify against Milke.

An appeals court overturned Milke's conviction in 2013, ruling that prosecutors failed to disclose a detective's history of misconduct. Her conviction was based entirely on a confession Milke gave to the now-discredited detective, Armando Saldate.

Multiple court rulings in other cases said the now-retired officer either lied under oath or violated suspects' rights during interrogations.

In a scathing 2013 opinion, a federal appeals court levelled harsh criticism over the case.

"No civilized system of justice should have to depend on such flimsy evidence," the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said.

Michael Kimerer, one of Milke's attorneys, said Monday that he was still in disbelief that "a long, long journey with so many ups and downs" ended with his client's freedom.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery last week called the decision not to let the case be retried "a dark day for Arizona's criminal justice system."

Milke filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the city of Phoenix, Maricopa County and numerous individuals. She alleges authorities violated her civil rights. She also contends she was denied a fair trial and was a victim of malicious prosecution.