BRIEF: Tennessee Supreme Court grants Memphis man new trial in child rape

March 27--The Tennessee Supreme Court has granted a Memphis man convicted of raping a child a new trial, citing errors in the original trial, officials said.

In 2012, Frederick Herron was sentenced to 25 years in prison for repeatedly raping a girl who was 8-12 years old when the assaults took place.

The state Supreme court said that the evidence supported the conviction, but that two errors at trial "were prejudicial and entitled the defendant to a new trial."

The court allowed the jury to twice view a recording of the victim speaking to an investigator about the assaults. Also, the judge ruled that if Herron testified, the prosecution would be allowed to ask him generally if he had ever been previously arrested or convicted of a crime. The defendant did not testify and was convicted.

Herron, a Navy veteran, had previously been found guilty in a military court martial for the sexual assault of a child relative.

State prosecutor Terre Fratesi handled the case before Criminal Court Judge Carolyn Blackett.

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