Woman’s Murder Conviction Overturned After 43 Years Behind Bars: REPORT

A judge in northwestern Missouri overturned the conviction of a woman incarcerated for 43 years for a 1980 murder after her attorneys argued that a disgraced police officer committed the crime, the Associated Press (AP) reported Saturday.

Judge Ryan Horsman of the 43rd Circuit Court of Livingston County ruled late Friday that there was evidence Sandra Hemme, 63, was innocent and that, failing a retrial, she therefore must be released within 30 days, according to the news report. Hemme’s trial counsel was ineffective and prosecutors failed to disclose helpful evidence, Judge Horsman reportedly said.

“We are grateful to the Court for acknowledging the grave injustice Ms. Hemme has endured for more than four decades,” Hemme’s attorneys told the AP via a statement. They would continue working to dismiss the charges and reunite Hemme, a psychiatric patient, with her family, they reportedly added.

There was no information from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, the AP said.

“Hemme was wrongly convicted for the 1980 murder of Patricia Jeschke in St. Joseph, Missouri, after police exploited her mental illness and coerced her into making false statements while she was sedated and being treated with antipsychotic medication,” Hemme’s attorneys said via The Innocence Project, a New York City-based non-profit organization using forensic science and legal support to tackle wrongful conviction cases.

Missouri woman's murder conviction tossed after 43 years. Her lawyers say a police officer did it https://t.co/8MayEMWD0O

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 15, 2024

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