A prisoner in Florida who has spent 28 years on death row has had his murder conviction and death sentence overturned after DNA evidence destroyed the prosecution case used against him almost three decades ago.

Paul Hildwin, 54, will remain on death row as he waits to find out whether the Florida authorities intend to prosecute him for a second time after the state's supreme court vacated his conviction and sentence and ordered a retrial. In a 5-2 ruling, the majority of the court said that "we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that a significant pillar of the state's case, as presented to the jury, has collapsed."