Martin Tankleff (Will Not be Retried)

[wheezer]

Grand jury impaneled in 1988 LI murders of Tankleff's parents
February 26, 2008

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. - A new grand jury has been impaneled to determine who might have killed the parents of a Long Island man who served nearly two decades in prison for the crime.

State prosecutors said Monday that the newly impaneled grand jury would consider evidence in the 1988 killings of Seymour and Arlene Tankleff.

Their son, Martin Tankleff, served 17 years in prison in their deaths. The 36-year-old was provisionally released from prison in December after an appeals court overturned his conviction on the basis that recently uncovered evidence could have exonerated him.

State prosecutors did not say whether Martin Tankleff remains a potential defendant or if there are other suspects.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-nyc--tankleff-grandju0226feb25,0,2658355.story

[LiveLaughLuv]

State opts not to retry Marty Tankleff in the murder of his parents
BY KENNETH LOVETT AND DAVE GOLDINER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Monday, June 30th 2008, 2:09 PM


Barcelo for News

Marty Tankleff served 17 years in prison before being released.
He's finally off the hook.

Martin Tankleff - who spent 17 years in jail for killing his parents before an appeals court tossed out the conviction - will not be retried in the 1988 murders.

"After 20 years, the evidence is insufficient to conclude or prove (the case) beyond a reasonable doubt," said Benjamin Rosenberg, the top trial lawyer in the attorney general's office.

A motion filed with a Long Island court said clearing Tankleff was "in the interests of justice."

"There is some evidence Martin Tankleff committed the crimes, the issue is . . . whether there is suff evidence to proceed in good faith and ultimatedly to convince a jury," Rosenberg wrote.

Tankleff was convicted in 1990 of the double slaying in the Tankleff home in posh Belle Terre after police said he confessed.

Tankleff, 17 at the time, immediately recanted the confession but was found guilty anyway and served 17 years in prison.

Last December, an appellate court ruled that key evidence in the case had been overlooked, and said Tankleff was entitled to a new trial.

After Suffolk County prosecutors opted not to take the case back to trial, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer asked the state attorney general to review the case.

Tankleff had hoped to be in the clear within days, but had to wait for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's report.

Cuomo's office was supposed to announce whether Tankleff, now 36, would face a new trial two weeks ago.

But prosecutors delayed that announcement to examine new lab results and question witnesses "not previously available."

Tankleff, 36, has been free on $1 million bail since the appeals court quashed his conviction in December.

His parents, Arlene and Seymour Tankleff, were fatally stabbed and bludgeoned the night of Sept. 7, 1988.

Suffolk detectives quickly zeroed on on their teen son, who confessed to the killings but later recanted. The confession was admitted in evidence at Tankleff's trial, and was considered the key to his conviction.

He was sentenced to 50 years to life.

Members of his family and other supporters refused to accept the verdict, and worked over the years to find witnesses and information overlooked by the prosecution.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/06/30/2008-06-30_state_opts_not_to_retry_marty_tankleff_i.html

[LiveLaughLuv]

Martin Tankleff is a free man.

He fought for twenty years to prove his innocence along with his family.

All charges dropped and will not be retried for his parents murders.

I do hope they focus in on his fathers business partner, I believe he is the true culprit.

[packy]

I'm glad to hear this. I followed his case on the board for him for a long time waiting for this day. Good news!

[chambord]

I'm glad to hear this. I followed his case on the board for him for a long time waiting for this day. Good news!

It is wonderful news. I was living in NY at the time of this murder, and I have always thought Martin was innocent.

[packy]

It is wonderful news. I was living in NY at the time of this murder, and I have always thought Martin was innocent.

Yeah it seemed unbelievable that they convicted him. Lord help us all.