1. You've probably heard a lot about Kyle Rittenhouse in the last few days.
But how much have you heard about Kevin Strickland?
He's been behind bars for 43-years for a crime the COUNTY PROSECUTOR now says he didn't commit.
Follow along if interested.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
But how much have you heard about Kevin Strickland?
He's been behind bars for 43-years for a crime the COUNTY PROSECUTOR now says he didn't commit.
Follow along if interested.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
2. Strickland was convicted on three counts of murder for a 1978 triple homicide and sentenced to 50 years w/o the possibility of parole
There was no physical evidence linking him to the crime
His conviction was based almost entirely on one eyewitness
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
There was no physical evidence linking him to the crime
His conviction was based almost entirely on one eyewitness
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
3. That witness, Cynthia Douglas, recanted her identification.
On February 4, 2009, Douglas sent an email to the Missouri Innocence Project with the subject "Wrongfully charged."
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
On February 4, 2009, Douglas sent an email to the Missouri Innocence Project with the subject "Wrongfully charged."
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
4. Douglas, who was shot during the murders, identified two other suspects, Vincent Bell and Kilm Adkins. They both pled guilty.
Bell spent most of his sentencing hearing talking about how Strickland was not involved.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
Bell spent most of his sentencing hearing talking about how Strickland was not involved.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
5. All of this has convinced the county prosecutor, Jean Peters Baker, that Strickland is "is factually innocent."
A new Missouri law passed in May gives Baker the right to make a motion for Strickland's release.
And that's exactly what Baker did.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
A new Missouri law passed in May gives Baker the right to make a motion for Strickland's release.
And that's exactly what Baker did.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
6. But Strickland remains behind bars today. Why? Mostly because of one man: Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.
Schmitt is running for U.S. Senate and has "churned out litigation designed to win favor with Donald Trump’s angry, aggrieved GOP base."
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
Schmitt is running for U.S. Senate and has "churned out litigation designed to win favor with Donald Trump’s angry, aggrieved GOP base."
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
7. Schmitt is vehemently opposing Strickland's release and using the case to convey that he is "tough on crime and is putting up a fight to keep a convicted criminal behind bars."
He's repeatedly asked for lengthy delays of Baker's motion.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
He's repeatedly asked for lengthy delays of Baker's motion.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
8. Schmitt also wrote a Supreme Court brief arguing the 2020 presidential election should be overturned.
"As attorney general, I've spent my time defending President Trump and the America First agenda," Schmitt said earlier this year.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
"As attorney general, I've spent my time defending President Trump and the America First agenda," Schmitt said earlier this year.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
9. After 4 decades, Strickland finally got his hearing last week. The Missouri Attorney General's office was there, arguing that he should remain behind bars. (Bell and Adkin, who pled guilty, were released decades ago.)
The judge could rule at any time
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
The judge could rule at any time
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
10. For updates on this story and more reporting that reveals the reality of the American criminal justice system, check out my newsletter, Popular Information.
It's free to sign up --> popular.info/subscribe
It's free to sign up --> popular.info/subscribe
11. Strickland actually had two trials in the 1970s and they both had disturbing racial dynamics.
Strickland's first trial ended in a mistrial after the lone Black juror refused to convict him.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
Strickland's first trial ended in a mistrial after the lone Black juror refused to convict him.
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
12. The prosecutor at the time "described the seating of that [Black] juror as 'careless' and a 'mistake' that he would not repeat"
In the 2nd trial, the prosecutor "used its first four peremptory strikes to remove the only four Black jurors remaining"
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
In the 2nd trial, the prosecutor "used its first four peremptory strikes to remove the only four Black jurors remaining"
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
13. The prosecution "did not provide a race-neutral reason justifying its targeting of these individuals."
Today, targeting Black jurors w/o a "race-neutral" explanation is illegal
But the SCOTUS decision banning the practice wasn't issued until 1986
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
Today, targeting Black jurors w/o a "race-neutral" explanation is illegal
But the SCOTUS decision banning the practice wasn't issued until 1986
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
14. There was a key weakness in the prosecution's case that a Black juror may have been more attuned to.
Douglas said the shooter was wearing his hair "natural" — in a short Afro
But in his booking photo, shows "the plait growing away from the scalp"
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
Douglas said the shooter was wearing his hair "natural" — in a short Afro
But in his booking photo, shows "the plait growing away from the scalp"
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
15. The condition of Strickland's braids at the time of his arrest suggests they were in place for at least a week.
"A Black person... would absolutely know right away that something was wrong"
Strickland was convicted by an all-white jury
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
"A Black person... would absolutely know right away that something was wrong"
Strickland was convicted by an all-white jury
popular.info/p/the-43-year-…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
