A professor and and students from the Wake Forest University Law School Appellate Advocacy Clinic have won the reversal of a sexual assault conviction from 1993 based on statements the prosecutor made during his closing argument.

"The prosecutor warned the jury of the existence of 'trickster lovers' who disguise themselves to 'your sons and daughters' as well-intentioned individuals, but have a 'sweet tooth … for masochistic, sadomasochistic horror,'" said Judge Julius Richardson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, joined by Judges Paul Niemeyer and James Wynn, in an amended opinion released Tuesday.