A new judge has been assigned to the trial of a man accused of murder who has been in prison for 43 years.

The Missouri Attorney General’s office has successfully argued the potential appearance of impropriety in the wrongful conviction case of Kevin Strickland.  

KMBC TV reports that this means that a Jackson County judge near Kansas City cannot preside over the case. 

The Missouri Supreme Court sided with Eric Schmitt’s office on Thursday and assigned a new judge, Judge James E. Welsh, to the case.  

Strickland has been in prison for 43-years for a triple murder. He says he didn’t commit the crime. 

He was 18 at the time.  He’s now 62.   

The trial has been delayed due to reassignment.   

The main witness against Strickland recanted her testimony. 

Two others in on the crime also said he was not involved.