Reputed Klansman's Conviction Overturned in 1964 Deaths

[Brewman_Jax]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/09/09/conviction.overturned/index.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26631689/


From the article: A federal appeals court overturned the kidnapping conviction of a reputed Klansman in connection with the 1964 deaths of two black teenagers in Mississippi.

James Ford Seale, a former sheriff's deputy, was convicted in June 2007 of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping in the disappearances of Charles Eddie Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, both 19.

On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the Fifth Circuit Court Appeals sided with Seale's claim that he should have never been tried in connection with the teens' deaths because a five-year statute of limitations on kidnapping-related offenses had expired.

"The more than 40-year delay clearly exceeded the limitations period," Judge Harold DeVoss wrote in the panel's ruling. "While we are mindful of the seriousness of the crimes at issue, we cannot abdicate our duty to faithfully apply a valid limitations period."

The ruling brought a surprise turn to a case that the FBI once trumpeted as an example of its efforts to close cold cases from the civil rights era.


He was never tried for murder, and there's no statute of limitations for murder. :grr:

[tblue]

1. Read that today. Unbelievable.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. He was never tried for murder

because the prosecutors couldn't prove murder.

So, they did their best.

Shit.

[norepubsin08]

3. What about going for a civil rights violation

and also in civil court the estate of the deceased should go for damages. The statute on the civil case should be from the point of discovery. Discovery technically wasn't made until June 2007 when there was a conviction.

[Selatius]

4. The man's an old fart at this point. He will die soon enough. Let God deal with him. nt

[Brewman_Jax]

5. Not soon enough

until then, his final years can be hell on earth. His victims didn't get to live a full life.

[Shakespeare]

7. Sorry, you don't get a mulligan on kidnapping and murder just because you're old.

I don't care if he's in a wheelchair or on life support. That evil SOB belongs in prison. The men he murdered received no mercy.

[LeftHander]

6. Republican voter drive....nt

[stranger81]

8. Disgusting, but not surprising.

And to kill the prosecution b/c of statute of limitations is a freaking slap in the face.

[Seeking Serenity]

10. Do you have a problem with the even application of law?

I want the same application of law for the man I hate as I would want for myself. The statute of limitations for kidnapping is five years. That's the law.

[Seeking Serenity]

9. It would be up to the State of Mississippi to bring murder charges.