Revenge of the nerds

The Utah Supreme Court has thrown out the manslaughter conviction of a man known as the "wedgie" killer.

Erik Kurtis Low, now 40, was convicted of killing another man during a night of drug use and horseplay. After the man grabbed Low's underwear and yanked upward hard enough to lift him off his feet, Low shot him to death.

The state Supreme Court ruled that the trial judge erred when he granted a prosecution request and instructed the jury that Low could be found guilty of "extreme emotional distress manslaughter." This, the defense argued, confused the jury about Low's plea of self-defense.

Low had been serving a 16-year sentence. Full story here.