Sandra Hemme, a Missouri inmate wrongfully convicted of murder, was released from prison on Friday after a protracted legal battle with the state’s attorney general.
Hemme’s release marks the end of a 43-year ordeal, stemming from a conviction based on withheld exculpatory evidence.
Legal Battle for Release
The process leading to Hemme’s release involved a series of motions and legal petitions. Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman overturned Hemme’s conviction, citing the suppression of crucial exculpatory evidence.
The Missouri attorney general initially sought to block Hemme’s release on procedural and jurisdictional grounds, arguing that the court lacked authority to issue the order and claiming that Hemme posed a danger to herself and others.
Despite these objections, the appellate court denied the attorney general’s motion, and Judge Horsman reaffirmed his order for Hemme’s release.
In a controversial move, the attorney general attempted to countermand the court’s order by contacting the correctional facility directly, effectively preventing her release.
In response, Hemme’s legal team filed a motion to enforce the release order.
The attorney general requested reconsideration, again challenging the court’s jurisdiction and citing additional sentences Hemme had received for incidents that occurred during her imprisonment.
Judge Horsman, undeterred, reiterated his order for Hemme’s release by 6 PM on Friday, warning the attorney general to appear in court if the order was not followed.
Background of Wrongful Conviction
Sandra Hemme was wrongfully convicted in 1980 for the stabbing murder of Patricia Jeschke. Judge Horsman found clear and convincing evidence of Hemme’s innocence, highlighting the unreliable nature of her confession.
Hemme had been involuntarily hospitalized and heavily medicated when she gave her initial statement to the police, leading to significant inconsistencies in her subsequent statements.
Additionally, the prosecution withheld critical evidence that could have exonerated her.
Role of the Innocence Project
The Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals, played a pivotal role in Hemme’s case.
Founded in 1992 at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, the Innocence Project has helped free more than 240 individuals from wrongful imprisonment.
