On 13 December 2012, the regional court of Magdeburg overruled the earlier acquittal, and ruled for negligent homicide.

An earlier acquittal was followed by a riot.

The prosecutors had challenged the earlier acquittal and had asked for a five-year sentence.

Because of his earlier acquittals, Mr. Gotti has gained a reputation within the underworld for legal invincibility.

Defense lawyers had argued that the jurors could feel pressure to convict, given the angry public response that followed the earlier acquittals.

Other mitigating factors were the officers' earlier acquittals on state charges stemming from the same incident.

The change would be retrospective, and in cases where it was applied, the Court of Appeal would be asked to quash the earlier acquittal.

In 2000, an appeals court dismissed the earlier acquittal, and he was arrested again.

But while jury selection carries a special burden in this trial, it is also more difficult than ever because of the reaction to the earlier acquittals.

An appellate court overturned their earlier acquittals yesterday.