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Delaware High Court Hears Appeal in Tournament Soccer Shooting

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware's Supreme Court is hearing an appeal from one of two gang members convicted of murder in a 2012 soccer tournament shooting in Wilmington that left three people dead.

Attorneys for Jeffrey Phillips, who is serving life in prison, say a judge erred in not declaring a mistrial after a key prosecution witness testified that he was in witness protection.

They also are challenging protective orders that prevented Phillips and his attorneys from discussing statements made by co-defendants before trial.

The defense also contends there was insufficient evidence to convict Phillips of gang participation, and that the judge should have allowed him to be tried separately from a co-defendant.

Phillips was convicted of the murder of tournament organizer Herman Curry, and manslaughter in the death of 16-year-old player Alexander Kamara.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.