Man who spent 30 years in jail has murder conviction overturned: Christopher Dunn | US News
The conviction of a man who has been imprisoned for over 30 years for murder has been overturned by a Missouri judge.
Christopher Dunn, who has been serving a life sentence without parole, has always maintained his innocence.
The decision is expected to result in Dunn being released, though the timing of his release has not been specified.
The ruling followed a three-day hearing in May where a judge deliberated on Dunn’s case.
Dunn, now 52, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1990 shooting of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers.
A motion was filed in February to void the guilty verdict.
In the recent ruling, Judge Jason Sengheiser stated: “The Circuit Attorney has presented strong evidence of ‘actual innocence’ that undermines the foundation of Dunn’s convictions because, based on new evidence, no juror, acting reasonably, would have found Dunn guilty of these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Dunn’s lawyer expressed delight at the judge’s decision, saying, “Now, Chris is looking forward to reuniting with his wife and family as a free man,” in a statement by Tricia Rojo Bushnell.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office opposed the attempt to overturn Dunn’s conviction.
Lawyers for the state argued during the May hearing that the initial testimonies of two boys who identified Dunn as the shooter at the scene were accurate, despite later retracting the claims as adults.
“The verdict was correct, and it should not be overturned,” Assistant Attorney General Tristin Estep stated during the hearing.
It is unclear whether the state will file an appeal.
Rogers was shot on May 18, 1990, in an incident where a gunman opened fire on a group of teenage boys outside a home.
DeMorris Stepp, 14, and Michael Davis Jr, 12, initially pointed out Dunn as the shooter.
Martha Dunn, the mother of Christopher Dunn, listens to testimony. Pic: Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, Pool
In a recorded interview played during the hearing, Davis revealed that he had falsely accused Dunn due to his association with a rival gang.
According to St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, Stepp’s version of events has changed multiple times over the years, with his latest statement indicating that he did not witness Dunn as the shooter.
Dunn claimed he was at his mother’s house at the time of the shooting.
Childhood friend Nicole Bailey testified that she had spoken to Dunn on the phone that night, confirming he was at his mother’s house.
