A California appeals court has ruled that a male University of Southern California student was deprived of his due process rights when he was expelled on allegations that he raped a female student because the lead investigator did not interview key witnesses and there was no review of physical evidence.

A three-judge panel of District Seven of the Second Appellate District on Tuesday overturned a prior ruling by a Superior Court judge who said the expelled student, identified by the court only as John Doe, was not deprived of a fair investigation and hearing.