A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence for a California man, even though two of the four special circumstances that the jury relied upon in finding him eligible for the death penalty were later found invalid.

Sanders was found guilty of murder, burglary and attempted robbery in connection with the 1981 bludgeoning death of Janice Allen during a drug-related robbery. A federal appeals court disagreed, overturned the death sentence and said Sanders was entitled to a new sentencing.

The jury found four special circumstances making Sanders eligible for the death penalty: the murder was committed during a robbery; it was committed during a burglary; the victim was killed because she witnessed a crime and to prevent her testimony; and the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.