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Missouri Woman Exonerated After 43 Years
A Missouri appellate court has upheld a lower court’s decision to overturn the murder conviction of Sandra Hemme, who spent 43 years in prison for a crime she did not commit.
Hemme’s attorney general argued for her continued imprisonment, but Judge Cynthia Martin dismissed their arguments as “absurd.” The court gave prosecutors 10 days to file new charges.
Hemme was convicted in 1981 for the murder of a library worker. However, evidence has emerged that points to Michael Holman, a discredited police officer, as the perpetrator.
The appellate court found that police “strongly suggested” they buried their investigation into Holman. Judge Ryan Horsman had previously overturned Hemme’s conviction based on “clear and convincing evidence” of her innocence.
Despite the lower court’s decision, Attorney General Andrew Bailey appealed, leading to a month-long battle over Hemme’s release while the appeal was being reviewed. Hemme was finally freed after a judge threatened to hold Bailey’s office in contempt.
At a recent hearing, Bailey’s assistant attorney general faced tough questioning about suppressed evidence that could have exonerated Hemme. The court noted concerns about a palm print that could not be ruled out as belonging to Holman.
Bailey has a history of opposing overturned convictions. In July, he attempted to keep Christopher Dunn imprisoned despite evidence of his innocence.
Hemme’s exoneration marks the end of a miscarriage of justice and highlights the need for thorough investigations and fair trials.