By Sabiu Abdullahi
A 63-year-old Missouri woman, Sandra “Sandy” Hemme, has had her conviction overturned after spending 43 years in prison for a murder she did not commit.
Hemme was convicted in 1985 based on incriminating statements she made while a psychiatric patient, but a judge has now ruled that there is “clear and convincing” evidence of her innocence.
Livingston County Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman ruled that evidence directly ties the murder of Patricia Jeschke to a local police officer, Michael Holman, who has since died.
Hemme must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors decide to re-try her. Hemme’s legal team, with the Innocence Project, argued that authorities ignored contradictory statements and failed to disclose evidence that would have helped her defense.
Her attorneys said, “We are grateful to the Court for acknowledging the grave injustice Ms. Hemme has endured for more than four decades.”
Hemme’s conviction was the longest-known wrongful conviction of a woman in US history. She initially pleaded guilty to capital murder to avoid the death penalty, but her conviction was later overturned on appeal.
At her retrial in 1985, the only evidence against her was her contradictory and factually impossible “confession” made while a psychiatric patient.
Hemme’s attorneys noted that she had a history of inpatient psychiatric care, having spent most of her life in treatment since age 12.
Her exoneration is a testament to the tireless efforts of her legal team and the Innocence Project, bringing an end to a 43-year-long grave injustice.