New York City Man’s Murder, Rape Convictions thrown out in Time for Christmas
After over nineteen years behind bars for various serious crimes that he did not commit, Steve Barnes, of Utica, New York has been released.Tuesday, I am sure his family is thrilled that the law has righted itself. Judge Michael Dwyer agreed new DNA evidence clears him of killing sixteen-year-old Kimberly Simon, a high school personal acquaintance, in 1985. This reminds me of arecent Washington case.
Kimberly Simon’s bruised body was found along the Mohawk River in Whitestown, sounds like the one in St. Louis, Missouri. The defendent/victim was convicted of serious crimes including 2 counts of murder related to the underlying injury. I am certain that he and his attorney are very happy right now. The conviction was based on various evidence which includes witness reports putting Barnes with Simon near the crime scene, an imprint of Simon’s jeans on dirt covering Barnes’ pickup truck, and a fellow inmate’s testimony. He was trucking apparently.
Although DNA evidence was taken from the crime scene in question, the samples were much too small to provide any type of actual conclusive evidence.
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working these days. Now back to the article at hand.
It appears, according to reports that he was, tragically, sent to jail on circumstantial evidence. All in all, District Attorney Scott McNamara, claims that if the current DNA technology existed in 1985, Barnes would never have even been booked, which seems to just add insult to injury, reminds me of a recent family law case in Washington after all.
ABarnes’ mother first contacted The Innocence Project in 1992. The group later took up his case in 1996, persuading authorities to re-examine the DNA evidence. Unfortunately, the results came back inconclusive because the genetic material had deteriorated, said Barnes’ defense lawyer.
This year, the Innocence Project convinced the DA’s office to re-test the DNA with very different results.
Tuesday’s court proceeding was quick and included, the personal attorney’s explanation that the new DNA testing “definitively excluded” Barnes as a suspect.
Four new DNA samples were tested using more advanced testing procedures.Two samples came from a rape kit, two were from Simon’s clothing.
Following the hearing, Barnes said he planned to work with the Innocence Project “to return the favor back.” Keep on trucking man.