Missouri woman's conviction for a murder her lawyers say a police officer committed overturned after 43 years

A Missouri woman who spent more than 43 years in prison for a murder her attorneys argue was committed by a now-discredited police officer could soon be released after a judge overturned the conviction. If released, Sandra Hemme's prison term will mark the longest known wrongful conviction of a woman in U.S. history, her attorneys said.

Judge Ryan Horsman ruled late Friday that Hemme has established evidence of actual innocence and must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors retry her. He said her trial counsel was ineffective and prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that would have helped her.

Hemme's attorneys with the New York-based Innocence Project filed a motion seeking her immediate release.