Conviction Overturned After 43 Years Served

(TotalConservative.com) – A woman from Missouri who was serving a life-sentence for murder had her conviction overturned after work by the Innocence Project revealed errors in her prosecution. Local Judge Ryan Horsman overturned her conviction after the state attorney general wanted her to serve more time.

64-year-old Sandra Hemme served 43 years of a life sentence for a wrongful conviction; that’s a record according to her lawyers. Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey fought her release despite there being indisputable evidence of her “actual innocence.” Bailey wanted to hold her for additional infractions that she made while in prison which included assault against prison officials and fighting with other inmates.

Ultimately Horsman decided that her wrongful conviction was the larger issue and threatened to hold Bailey’s office in contempt if they refused to release her as instructed. Bailey’s office released her on Friday, July 19 after being told he would have to appear in court the following week and explain himself otherwise.

Hemme had been serving life for murder charges which she confessed to; however, it was determined that her confession was false and unreliable. It was also discovered that potential exculpatory evidence that was discovered in the course of the investigation was not revealed to her or her legal counsel. Horsman called holding her for decades “manifest injustice.”

Hemme’s attorney, Sean O’Brien pointed out that it was far easier to convict an innocent woman than to secure her release, even when presented with a legal finding and evidence that she wasn’t responsible.

Horsman also chided Bailey after his office called the prison and instructed them to not-execute his order to release Hemme. He suggested instructing officials to disregard a court order was “wrong.”

Hemme declined to speak with the media and went straight to be with her father who is in palliative care with kidney failure. O’Brien said that Hemme’s conviction did “irreparable harm” and caused severe emotional damage to her family. He also highlighted that Hemme will need financial assistance due to be ineligible for Society Security after a lengthy incarceration.