POLSON — A man convicted of killing a former Salish and Kootenai tribal chairman in July 2005 has been released on his own recognizance after he was granted a new trial because a judge ruled his confession was not given voluntarily.
KCFW-TV reports Clifford Oldhorn was released Wednesday. He was convicted in August 2011 and sentenced to 100 years in prison for the death of Harold Mitchell Jr.
Oldhorn appealed, saying prosecutors used statements he made while believing he had immunity from prosecution.
District Judge C.B. McNeil ruled statements Oldhorn made to investigators in 2008 should be suppressed. Lake County is appealing to the Montana Supreme Court.
Prosecutors have said it wouldn’t be practical to re-try Oldhorn without his statements.