Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Bulletin: Raymond "Beaver" Tempest, Jr; Rhode Island; "He has been granted bail after murder conviction overturned and is expected to be released on home confinement today; "A judge vacated the second-degree murder conviction last month, saying there were ‘constitutional violations of Mr. Tempest’s due process rights.” His lawyers presented testimony and DNA evidence not heard in the original trial, including the fact that hair found clutched in Picard’s hand did not belong to Tempest."

"A man who’s spent the last 23 years behind bars for a 1982 murder may soon be released. A judge granted bail Friday for Raymond “Beaver” Tempest, Jr., set at $100,000. He’ll be released on home confinement Tuesday pending a state appeal to the Supreme Court.........Tempest was found guilty in 1992 in the strangling death of Doreen Picard in Woonsocket. He’s consistently maintained his innocence in the case, claiming he was framed by Woonsocket police. A judge vacated the second-degree murder conviction last month, saying there were ‘constitutional violations of Mr. Tempest’s due process rights.” His lawyers presented testimony and DNA evidence not heard in the original trial, including the fact that hair found clutched in Picard’s hand did not belong to Tempest.".........Now, the case is in the hands of the Supreme Court – which has the choice to deny the state’s appeal, freeing Tempest permanently. If they uphold it, though, there will be a retrial of Tempest for the murder of Doreen Picard."
http://wpri.com/2015/08/14/beaver-tempest-granted-bail-after-murder-conviction-overturned/