The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, "Judge: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge killer failed to establish innocence," by Joel Currier. It's the most extensive reporting available today on the Missouri judge's recommendation to the Missouri Supreme Court. Here's an extended excerpt from the beginning:
A man fighting his conviction and death sentence in a 1991 double-murder on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge failed to establish his innocence in the case, according to a special review by a judge.The judge noted, however, that prosecutors improperly suppressed evidence that suggested detectives beat Reginald Clemons into confessing to the crimes.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Michael Manners, who retired from the bench last month, was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court as “special master” to review the case of Clemons, 41, who sits on death row.
“I do not believe Clemons has established a gateway claim of actual innocence,” Manners wrote.
His report now goes to the state’s high court, which will begin the process of reviewing Clemons’ appeal. The court can decide anything from leaving Clemons on death row to throwing out his conviction.
Clemons was among four men convicted of raping and murdering sisters Julie Kerry, 20, and Robin Kerry, 19, on the old Chain of Rocks Bridge in April 1991. A jury convicted Clemons without physical evidence of rape. He was sentenced to death in 1993.
Manners argued in his report that the jury in Clemons’ case would never have heard his taped confession if the state had not suppressed a probation officer’s testimony. The officer said he saw injuries to Clemons’ face after a police interrogation.
Manners wrote that although he doesn’t believe the evidence would have changed the verdict, he rejected the state’s claim that keeping it out of the trial was a “harmless error.”
"Judge reviewing case of Missouri death row inmates finds flaws, but no proof of innocence," is AP coverage, via the Republic.
A special review by a judge has found flaws in the prosecution of death row inmate Reginald Clemons. But Judge Michael Manners says Clemons failed to prove his innocence.Manners, who retired last month as a circuit judge in Jackson County, reviewed the case at the request of the Missouri Supreme Court. His review, announced Wednesday, goes back to the state's high court, which will consider Clemons' appeal.
Twenty-year-old Julie Kerry and her 19-year-old sister, Robin, were with their male cousin on the abandoned Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis in 1991 when they happened upon Clemons and three other men.
"Convicted Chain of Rocks killer was coerced, judge says," in the Belleville News-Democrat.
The Missouri Supreme Court will review the case of a man convicted of raping and murdering two women on the Chain of Rocks Bridge in 1991.
A circuit judge asked to review Reginald Clemons' conviction revealed in his report that, while Clemons failed to prove he was innocent, there was support for his claim that he was beaten by police into making a confession. The Supreme Court will decide if Clemons will be granted a new trial because of the new information.
According to the report, a jailhouse employee testified that he saw swelling on Clemons' face after he was interviewed by two investigators. When they were questioned about the alleged beating, the investigators refused to testify, citing the Fifth Amendment.
The St. Louis American posts, "Special review judge finds flaws in Reginald Clemons prosecution."
A special review by a judge has found flaws in the prosecution of death row inmate Reginald Clemons. But Judge Michael Manners also says Clemons failed to prove his innocence.
Manners, who retired last month as a circuit judge in Jackson County, reviewed the case at the request of the Missouri Supreme Court. His review, announced Wednesday, goes back to the state's high court, which will consider Clemons' appeal.
Earlier coverage of Reggie Clemons case begins with the hearing that Judge Manners conducted.
Comments