A judge in Missouri has overturned the conviction of Sandra Hemme, a woman who spent 43 years in prison for a 1980 killing. The judge ruled that Hemme, now 64, had established evidence of actual innocence and must be released within 30 days unless prosecutors retry her in the case of Patricia Jeschke's death.
The judge cited ineffective trial counsel and prosecutors failing to reveal evidence that could have helped Hemme's defense. Hemme's attorneys, who filed a motion for her immediate release, stated that this is the longest time a woman has been incarcerated for a wrongful conviction.
