Cory Maye has won a new trial in the slaying of a Prentiss police officer because a judge denied Maye his constitutional right to be tried in south Mississippi’s Jefferson Davis County.

Maye was convicted and sentenced to death in 2004 in Marion County for the slaying of officer Ron Jones. In 2006, the death penalty was dismissed and Maye was sentenced to life without parole.

Maye’s trial had been moved to Lamar County. Before trial, Maye petitioned the court to put the case back in Jefferson Davis County. A judge transferred the case to Marion County.

The state Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled, in a 6-2 decision, Maye had a right to have his trial in Jefferson Davis County, where the crime occurred.