Alabama to appeal ruling for new trial in bridge deaths

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Prosecutors say they'll ask the Alabama Supreme Court to overturn an appeals court decision throwing out the 2009 conviction and death sentence of a man accused of throwing four small children off a coastal bridge.

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday ordered a new trial for Lam Luong. The court ruled publicity surrounding the case made it impossible for the suspect to have a fair trial in Mobile where the crime occurred.

Attorney General's office spokeswoman Joy Patterson said today the state plans to appeal.

Luong, a part-time shrimp boat worker and Vietnamese immigrant, is accused of throwing the children from the Dauphin Island bridge into the Mississippi Sound in January 2008.

The trial judge denied requests by Luong's lawyers to move the trial outside of Mobile County.

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