A California appeals court ruled Thursday that psychiatric and other confidential records of Franciscan friars accused of sex abuse should be made public.

The ruling from the 2nd District Court of Appeal is significant for clergy abuse victims who have been fighting for the public disclosure of records that the Roman Catholic church kept of abusive clergy.

The ruling arose from lawsuits filed against the Franciscan Friars of California Inc. by 25 plaintiffs alleging sexual abuse at the hands of friars.

Those plaintiffs settled for $28 million in 2006, but the settlement agreement also sought the release of records on six of the friars.

The trial judge found the social interests of protecting children from molestation outweighed the privacy rights of the friars, who then appealed the decision to make their psychiatric, medical and other records public.

An attorney representing the friars said Thursday's ruling robs the church — or any other organization dealing with children — of a way to find out if abuse is taking place without threatening the suspected abuser.

Priests or other employees who are molesting children may no longer discuss their crimes with a therapist or doctor because those records could now be made public, said Robert Howie, who represents the individual friars.

A lawyer for one of the three men convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts in West Memphis told the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday that new scientific evidence in the case merits reopening his client's case.

Damien Echols has maintained his innocence since his arrest in the 1993 killings. Attorney Dennis Riordan told the court that DNA testing conducted after Echols' conviction did not place Echols at the scene and that other scientific evaluation of evidence contradicts statements made by one of the three men during a confession.

Riordan asked the court to send the case back to circuit court for an evidentiary hearing so that the trial judge can sort out the new evidence.

If the hearing is conducted, Riordan said the judge would have to take the next step and order a new trial.

"It is in the interest of the state and Mr. Echols that we get to that point as soon as possible," Riordan said.

The Legislature passed a law allowing DNA testing in cases when the technology wasn't available in the original trial, Assistant Attorney General David Roupp argued the evidence has to prove innocence, not just raise questions.

The Washington state woman who falsely claimed a stranger threw acid in her face is due in court in what will be her first public appearance since she held a hospital press conference nearly a month ago with her head swathed in bandages.

Bethany Storro of Vancouver is expected to plead not guilty Wednesday to three theft charges.

Deputy Prosecutor Tony Golik says she accepted donations for help with facial burns she suffered Aug. 30. Police say she later admitted putting drain cleaner on her face.

Her lawyer expects Storro will be released after a brief appearance in Clark County Superior Court.

Court records indicate Storro spent about $1,500 of the nearly $28,000 donated. Storro's parents have said the money will be returned.

A judge has ordered an attorney for one of two Connecticut men charged with killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion to explain why he shouldn't face criminal contempt proceedings after speaking out about the case.

New Haven Superior Court Judge Roland Fasano on Monday ordered attorney Jeremiah Donovan to appear at an Oct. 6 hearing. Fasano said Donovan's statement outside of court Friday violated a gag order and could prejudice the trials of both men.

Donovan represents Joshua Komisarjevsky (koh-mih-sar-JEV'-skee), who is awaiting trial. His co-defendant, Steven Hayes, is on trial.

Donovan said Friday he did not believe he was violating the gag order and was trying to clear up a misunderstanding by the victims' relatives related to charges that Komisarjevsky sexually assaulted one of the girls.

The case of a New York man accused of killing his wife and incinerating her in an oil drum is going back to court.

Opening arguments in the retrial of Werner Lippe of Cortlandt, N.Y., are set for Monday at the Westchester County Courthouse.

Lippe confessed three times to killing his wife Faith. He later recanted and insisted during his trial last winter that he last saw her being driven away from their home in October 2008.

Prosecutors never found a body or any trace of one. They alleged that Lippe, a jeweler, burned his wife in a backyard oil drum — which was not recovered. They said he could have used the acids he kept in his home workshop to get rid of bones and teeth.

A man has pleaded guilty to murdering a woman and her 11-year-old son.

Polish national Krystian Krysztof Rozek, 27, admitted killing Monika Wasko, 29, and her son Patryk in a knife attack at their home in Cae Hir, Flint, North Wales, where he had been lodging.

Rozek pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mrs Wasko's husband Rafael, an official from Caernarfon Crown Court said.

Mrs Wasko died at the scene and Patryk died at Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool three days after the multiple stabbing. Paramedics arrived at the scene in the early hours of July 11.