A LOUISIANA man who has spent nearly three decades on death row has had his conviction overturned following a review of forensic analysis that the inmate’s legal team argued was based on “junk science.”

Jimmie Duncan was originally convicted of first-degree murder in 1998 after being accused by prosecutors of raping and drowning his girlfriend’s toddler in a bathtub.

Prosecutors relied on bite mark analysis and an autopsy performed by two experts — later linked to wrongful convictions — whom Mr Duncan’s legal team described as discredited “charlatans.” Mr Duncan has long maintained his innocence.