State to appeal death sentence reversal in 1996 double murder

State prosecutors will appeal a judge's decision to overturn the conviction and death sentence of a man accused of fatally shooting two men whose bodies were found in Wilmington's Rockford Park nearly two decades ago.

Superior Court Judge Andrea L. Rocanelli granted Luis Reyes' post-conviction motion this week.

She wrote in a 92-page opinion that Reyes' constitutional rights were violated during the guilt and penalty phases of his trial. His trial counsel was ineffective and his decision not to testify at his trial was neither knowing nor voluntary, she added.

"This court finds that the fundamental legality, reliability, integrity and fairness of the proceedings leading to Reyes' convictions and sentencing are not sound," she wrote.

Reyes and co-defendant Luis Cabrera were convicted in the shooting deaths of Brandon Saunders and Vaughn Rowe, whose bodies were discovered in a wooded area of Rockford Park in Wilmington on Jan. 21, 1996.

They have been on death row since 2001.

Last year, Rocanelli reversed Cabrera's death sentence, but upheld his conviction. The state will appeal both rulings.

The state was "deeply disappointed" by the reversal and the "effect this decision has had this week on the families of Brandon Saunders and Vaughn Rowe," according to Nicole Byers, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Justice.

Defense failures cited in death penalty reversal

"We respectfully believe that there are numerous factual and legal errors in the Superior Court opinion, and we will be appealing the decision to the Delaware Supreme Court," she said.

Reyes' attorney, Patrick J. Collins said, he is pleased with Rocanelli's ruling and happy for Reyes.

"But now the ball is in the state's court," he said about the potential appeal.

Contact Jessica Masulli Reyes at (302) 324-2777, jmreyes@delawareonline.com or Twitter @JessicaMasulli.