Judge Replaces Prosecutor for Bernie Tiede Case

CARTHAGE (AP) — A judge has appointed a special prosecutor to handle the retrial of the man whose murder conviction inspired the dark comedy “Bernie.” Judge Diane DeVasto issued the decision Tuesday, a day after Panola County District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson asked that he and his staff be removed from the case because he was now a witness. DeVasto granted the request and appointed Assistant State Attorney General Adrienne McFarland to the retrial. Tiede was convicted of killing wealthy widow Marjorie Nugent and storing her body in a freezer. He was released from prison after a judge agreed to reduce his sentence, and Davidson agreed that the former mortician was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment. DeVasto also canceled a pre-trial hearing Tuesday. No new hearings or trial dates have been set.