A LOUISIANA man who has spent nearly three decades on death row has had his conviction overturned following a review of forensic analysis that the inmate’s legal team argued was based on “junk science.”

Jimmie Duncan was originally convicted of first-degree murder in 1998 after being accused by prosecutors of raping and drowning his girlfriend’s toddler in a bathtub.

Prosecutors relied on bite mark analysis and an autopsy performed by two experts — later linked to wrongful convictions — whom Mr Duncan’s legal team described as discredited “charlatans.” Mr Duncan has long maintained his innocence.

Fourth Judicial District Court judge Alvin Sharp threw out his first-degree murder conviction last week, in a ruling first reported by Verite News.

The judge heard expert testimony that the bite mark analysis was “not scientifically defensible” and that the death appeared to be the result of “accidental drowning.”

Mr Sharp also received evidence that a prison informant had recanted his testimony and that Mr Duncan had received ineffective counsel during his trial.

Ouachita Parish district attorney Robert Tew could appeal, seek a retrial or accept the ruling.