Roamer
10-14-2009, 07:09 AM
http://www.wlky.com/news/21285983/detail.html
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A miscarriage of justice -- that’s what Judge Frederic Cowan called the imprisonment of an innocent man in the 1993 slaying of a convenience store clerk.
Tuesday, Cowan apologized on behalf of the justice system as he exonerated Edwin A. Chandler for the slaying. Chandler served nine years in prison and another five years on parole for the crime.
Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney David Stengel said another man, Percy Phillips, was indicted Tuesday in the slaying.
Cowan said he could not overstate the significance of the case and reminded those in the courtroom the seriousness with which they should take their jobs.
Cowan released Chandler from parole immediately. Upon hearing he was exonerated, Chandler broke down in tears.
Prior to his erroneous conviction, Chandler had one prior misdemeanor conviction. Originally, witnesses incorrectly identified Chandler as the man in surveillance video from the scene of the crime, when in fact he wasn’t there.
The evidence that eventually exonerated Chandler was a beer bottle found on the counter. New technology not available at the time of the crime showed Chandler’s prints weren’t on the bottle.
That evidence, along with two new witnesses, including another inmate who claimed Phillips told him he had committed the slaying, cleared Chandler.
A deputy used a Taser on Phillips in court in July after he became unruly during a hearing held to determine if he was competent to stand trial on charges of threatening a witness and being a persistent felony offender.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A miscarriage of justice -- that’s what Judge Frederic Cowan called the imprisonment of an innocent man in the 1993 slaying of a convenience store clerk.
Tuesday, Cowan apologized on behalf of the justice system as he exonerated Edwin A. Chandler for the slaying. Chandler served nine years in prison and another five years on parole for the crime.
Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney David Stengel said another man, Percy Phillips, was indicted Tuesday in the slaying.
Cowan said he could not overstate the significance of the case and reminded those in the courtroom the seriousness with which they should take their jobs.
Cowan released Chandler from parole immediately. Upon hearing he was exonerated, Chandler broke down in tears.
Prior to his erroneous conviction, Chandler had one prior misdemeanor conviction. Originally, witnesses incorrectly identified Chandler as the man in surveillance video from the scene of the crime, when in fact he wasn’t there.
The evidence that eventually exonerated Chandler was a beer bottle found on the counter. New technology not available at the time of the crime showed Chandler’s prints weren’t on the bottle.
That evidence, along with two new witnesses, including another inmate who claimed Phillips told him he had committed the slaying, cleared Chandler.
A deputy used a Taser on Phillips in court in July after he became unruly during a hearing held to determine if he was competent to stand trial on charges of threatening a witness and being a persistent felony offender.