Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Lunbery v. Hornbeak (9th Cir. - May 25, 2010)

Her husband was killed by a single blow to the head. She had no real alibi. She confessed to the murder.

Surely she's guilty, right? Especially after the jury so finds. Even more so after the California appellate courts deny her appeal. Obvious, right?


There's some part of me that thought, as I read the case, that she might be guilty. But other parts of the opinion made me think, nope, she's probably factually innocent. Plus it's darn hard for me to say she's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Though, of course, the jury so found.

Take a look and see what you think. Yep, she confessed. But this may well be someone who confessed to a murder she didn't commit.