After Discovery Of Prosecutors' Racist Emails, Plymouth DA Will Not Seek New Trial For Woman Over Pa
After Discovery Of Prosecutors' Racist Emails, Plymouth DA Will Not Seek New Trial For Woman Over Parents Death
September 29, 2020
Deborah Becker
The state will not pursue a fourth murder trial for Frances Choy. She was convicted of setting her Brockton home on fire and killing her parents in 2003. A judge vacated her conviction earlier this year — in part because of the discovery of racist emails written by the prosecutors who tried the case.
At a status hearing Tuesday afternoon, the Plymouth County District Attorney filed a nolle prosequi — meaning it will not seek another trial.
"This may be the first case in the U.S. where a murder conviction has been thrown out because of racism on the part of prosecutors," said John Barter, attorney for Frances Choy.
This decision makes Choy the first woman of color to be exonerated in Massachusetts, according to her lawyers.
Barter fought for the emails for almost five years. Most of them were released last year after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered the Plymouth County DA to turn them over. In the emails, prosecutors mocked the Choy family and wrote derogatory notes about Frances Choy and others — sometimes invoking racial stereotypes against Asians.
More:
https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/09/29/prosecutors-racist-emails-plymouth-da-frances-choy
~ ~ ~
After Discovery Of Prosecutors' Racist Emails, Plymouth DA Will Not Seek New Trial For Woman Over Parents Death
September 29, 2020
Deborah Becker
The state will not pursue a fourth murder trial for Frances Choy. She was convicted of setting her Brockton home on fire and killing her parents in 2003. A judge vacated her conviction earlier this year — in part because of the discovery of racist emails written by the prosecutors who tried the case.
. . .
Frances Choy, now 34, was released from prison earlier this year after a judge vacated her conviction. She had been charged with setting her Brockton home on fire and killing her parents in 2003. (Courtesy)
Defense attorney John Barter said while she was in prison, Frances Choy obtained her bachelor's degree, as well as certificates in cooking and cosmetology and she trained service dogs for disabled veterans. He says she is eager to move forward.
More:
https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/09/29/prosecutors-racist-emails-plymouth-da-frances-choy
= new reply since forum marked as read
