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Another trial set for man accused of killing Phylicia Barnes

Posted at 6:50 PM, Oct 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-25 08:51:58-04

For the fourth time, prosecutors will try and convict the man accused of killing Phylicia Barnes. 

Michael Johnson will head to court after failed attempts to reach a verdict in the death of the 16-year-old.

In 2010, Barnes was home visiting family in Baltimore for Christmas when she went missing. Her body was discovered months later in the Susquehanna River in April of 2011.

Johnson, who is her sister's ex-boyfriend, was charged with second-degree murder and was convicted in 2013. The ruling was later dismissed after a judge said prosecutors withheld evidence.

Johnson was tried for the second time to only have it end in a mistrial. A third conviction attempt never made it to trial, and the judge dropped all charges against Johnson.

The Maryland Court of Appeals would later overturn the judge's decision to drop charges, allowing prosecutors in Baltimore to try Johnson again.

His new trial is set for Friday, Dec. 2.

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