Judge Michael Manners, the Special Master appointed in the Reginald Clemons case, heard opening arguments and partial testimony from one witness on the first day of a hearing likely to last all week in the St. Louis Circuit Court.
Judge Manners was ordered by the Missouri Supreme Court to conduct an evidentiary hearing regarding Clemons’ writ of habeas corpus challenging his 1993 conviction for the murders of Robin Carey and Julie Carey.
Clemons counsel claims in court this morning that new evidence should compel the court to throw out his conviction and order a new trial. His counsel also argued that Clemons’ verdict of the death penalty was disproportionate and “almost unprecedented” given his youth at the time of the incident, his lack of any previous criminal record and the fact that he was charged as an accomplice.
The state attorney general’s office argued in court this morning that there is no new evidence before the court and all matters before the Special Master have already been litigated.
Judge Manners took under advisement the preliminary motion from the state to compel a new deposition of Clemons before he is allowed to take the stand. Clemons’ counsel intends to call their client to the stand to testify regarding his allegation that his original confession to rape was coerced.
