Deborah Nicholls back in court following decades-old conviction reversal

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -Deborah Nicholls, the Colorado Springs mother convicted in the deaths of her three children in a 2003 house fire, appeared in court on Aug. 20 following her murder convictions being vacated.

We spoke with Nicholls' niece, Courtney Hampton, who gave us the following statement regarding todays hearing:

"I am happy the truth is coming out, and I am glad the case is moving forward. I have always believed in my aunt's innocence and look forward to rebuilding life with her again. This has been devastating to my entire family, and we all deserve some healing."

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Deborah Nicholls' case vacated 23 years after three children killed in house fire

Nicholls, 59, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of her children — 11-year-old Jay, 5-year-old Sophia and 3-year-old Sierra — who were killed in a fire at the family's home on Undimmed Circle on March 7, 2003.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: ‘It hurts your heart’: Firefighter relives fire that killed 3 children after Colorado Springs mother’s murder convictions vacated

Her convictions were vacated after a court ruling that the prosecution suppressed scientific evidence during Deborah Nicholls' trial, which is a Brady violation. The ruling was filed on Aug. 1 through the El Paso County District Court, according to court documents acquired by KRDO13.

Nicholls is currently being held at the El Paso County Jail after being transferred from the La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo.

Nicholls' next court hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 4.

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