A judge has overturned the conviction of a Missouri woman who was a psychiatric patient when she incriminated herself in a 1980 killing that her attorneys argue was actually committed by a now-discredited police officer. Sandra Hemme, who has spent 43 years behind bars, had her conviction overturned by Judge Ryan Horsman. The judge ruled that Hemme had established evidence of actual innocence and must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors retry her.
Hemme's trial counsel was deemed ineffective, and prosecutors were found to have failed to disclose evidence that could have aided her case. Her attorneys have filed a motion seeking her immediate release, stating that this is the longest time a woman has been incarcerated for a wrongful conviction.
