US supreme court reinstates murder conviction in case of Etan Patz

Key Points:

• The US Supreme Court reinstated the murder conviction of Pedro Hernandez, who was convicted in 2017 for the kidnapping and murder of Etan Patz, a six-year-old boy who disappeared in 1979 in New York City.
• The court reversed a lower appeals court ruling that had overturned Hernandez’s conviction due to a judge's allegedly incorrect response to a jury question about the admissibility of Hernandez's confessions.
• Hernandez’s lawyers argued that his confession was false, citing his mental illness and prolonged police questioning before being read his Miranda rights, but the Supreme Court ruled that federal law does not permit overturning state convictions based on such evidence evaluations.
• Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg praised the Supreme Court’s decision, affirming the office’s commitment to justice for Etan Patz and his family.
• Hernandez received a prison sentence of 25 years to life, although Etan Patz’s body has never been found.