- Author, Tom McArthur
- Role, BBC News
four hours
Sandra Heim was 20 when she was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He was sentenced in November 1980 after being found guilty of stabbing to death Patricia Jeschke, a library employee in Missouri, United States.
But a review of her case found that other than a confession made by Hemme under heavy sedation in a psychiatric hospital, there was no evidence linking her to the crime.
Now Haim is 64, and his reps say he’s done with it Longest incorrect sentence A known crime against a woman in American history.
Organization’s legal team The Innocence Project (The Innocence Project) Those who took up his case said they were grateful that Haim was eventually reunited with his family and that they would “continue to fight” to clear his name, because although he is no longer in prison, his case is still under review.
Circuit Court Judge Ryan Horsman’s original 118-page decision tossing out his conviction on June 14 said Hemme’s attorneys had clear evidence of his innocence, some of which was not handed over to his team at the time.
Judge Horsman concluded, “This court finds that the totality of the evidence supports a conclusion of actual innocence.”
image Source, The Innocence Project
caption, Sandra Heim (left) was released from prison after 43 years.
irregularities in the case
A review of the case found that The local police ignored it evidence that directly points to One of his own agents, Michael HolmanWho later went to jail for another crime and died in 2015.
Holman’s truck had been seen in the area on the day of the murder, his alibi could not be verified, and he had used victim Patricia Jeschke’s credit card after claiming he had found the truck in a ditch.
A pair of distinctive gold earrings identified by Jeschke’s father were also found in Holman’s home.
None of this was told to Hemme’s defense team at the time, according to the review.
Hemme was questioned several times by the police under Effect of antipsychotic drugs and a powerful sedative After being involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital, it was discovered that Haim had received occasional psychiatric treatment since the age of 12.
Court documents show that during interrogation his answers were “one-syllable” and that he “was completely unaware of what was happening”. At times he could barely lift his head and felt pain due to muscle spasms caused by the side effects of the drugs.
Judge Horsman’s review stated that no forensic evidence linked Heim to the murder. He had no motive and there were no witnesses linking him to the crime.
After all Sandra Heim He was released from jail on July 19 and was reunited with his family at a nearby park where he hugged his sister, his daughter, and his granddaughter.
His father was hospitalized and receiving palliative care this week. His legal team said they planned to visit him as soon as possible.
According to the media, from now on Hem will stay with his sister The Kansas City Star.
Defense attorney Sean O’Bryan told the same outlet that Haim will need help because he has spent most of his life in prison without the right to receive Social Security.
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