A Scot whose death sentence was thrown out by a US federal appeals court has been moved from a prison where he has awaited execution for 20 years.

Kenny Richey, who grew up in Edinburgh, was transferred from a state prison in Ohio to a county jail in Ottawa on Monday, JoEllen Lyons, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Corrections, said Richey, 43, was found guilty of starting a fire that killed a two-year-old girl in 1986 but his conviction was overturned last month.

Prosecutors in Ohio say they will not challenge that decision, paving the way for his retrial and possible bail.

Last month The Herald reported that Richey would be moved from the state jail and yesterday he arrived at the county jail, where he will stay while he awaits a new trial.

Prosecutors plan to try him again on aggravated murder, aggravated arson and child endangering charges.

Richey, whose mother was Scottish and father American, was sentenced to death on January 27, 1987, after he was convicted of starting a fire in which Cynthia Collins died in 1986, allegedly because his former girlfriend and her lover - supposedly the intended targets - lived in the flat beneath.

Protesting his innocence, Richey refused a plea bargain which would have led to an 11-year sentence for arson and manslaughter. His death sentence was overturned for a second time on August 10.

Amnesty International UK is now calling for Mr Richey to be granted bail. John Watson, director of the organisation in Scotland, said: "We welcome the fact that for the first time in over 20 years Kenny is coming off death row."

Richey's ex-fiancee Karen Torley said: "I spoke to Kenny tonight on the phone. He sounded really upbeat and was singing The Proclaimers' song I'm on my way'."