A Pennsylvania judge has overturned the murder convictions of three men known as the 'Chester Trio' after nearly 25 years of imprisonment. Derrick Chappell, Morton Johnson, and Samuel Grasty were convicted in separate trials in 2000 and 2001 for the 1997 killing of Henrietta Nickens in Chester, Pennsylvania. The trio maintained their innocence throughout their incarceration.
Last year, the 'Chester Trio' presented new DNA evidence pointing to an unknown man as the killer and requested a new trial. Despite prosecutors' objections, Delaware County Judge Mary Alice Brennan ruled in favor of the trio, vacating their convictions and granting a new trial.
The men's attorneys expressed relief and joy at the ruling, emphasizing the long struggle for justice. However, Chappell, Johnson, and Grasty remain in prison pending a possible appeal by prosecutors. The Innocence Project, Pennsylvania Innocence Project, and Centurion provided legal representation for the trio.
The case against the 'Chester Trio' relied heavily on testimony from a key witness, Richard McElwee, who implicated them in the crime in exchange for a reduced sentence. New DNA testing conducted in 2021 excluded the defendants and linked evidence to an unknown male.
Expert testimony highlighted the significance of the DNA evidence, indicating a different narrative of the crime scene. Prosecutors argued that the new evidence did not alter the original case against the trio.
The ruling marks a significant development in a series of overturned murder convictions in Pennsylvania. The 'Chester Trio' case underscores the importance of advancements in DNA technology in ensuring justice and correcting wrongful convictions.
