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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 4, 2010

Guam murder conviction in 1999 death overturned


Associated Press

HAGATMA, Guam — A Guam man serving a life prison term for murder will get a new trial.

The Supreme Court of the U.S. territory reversed the conviction of Anthony C. Flores last week.
He was found guilty of murder in 2005 for the 1999 slaying of exotic dancer Sherri Lea Taylor. She died eight days after she was found tied up and beaten in her hotel room.
The Supreme Court held it was unclear if members the jury had been swayed by a TV news report that quoted Taylor’s closest friend.
According to defense attorney Ana Gayle, the friend, Kimberly Caulkins Vawter, had expressed opinions and given details to KUAM that she hadn’t when she testified in court.
Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson had instructed Vawter not to talk with reporters.