Thursday, June 27, 2019

Belynda Goff: Arkansas Major (Welcome) Development: Exonerated a last as judge rules a new trial would result in her acquittal based on the paltry evidence in the case. (As per reporter Bill Bowden, Arkansas on line)..." Belynda Goff found her husband's bloody body in the living room of their Berryville apartment early on the morning of June 12, 1994, according to Jackson's resentencing order. Laboratory testing found none of Belynda Goff's DNA on evidence from the case, Jackson wrote. Several items of evidence submitted with the case were found to be missing either from the state Crime Laboratory or the Carroll County sheriff's office, according to court filings. They included fingernail clippings and hair that was found on the victim. "This court has considered the DNA test results with all other evidence in the case, including the joint stipulations of the parties, and the court finds compelling evidence that a new trial would result in an acquittal of the defendant, Belynda Goff," Jackson wrote."


BACKGROUND: See previous post on this Blog  (May 9, 2016) at the link below: "Belynda Goff: (Arkansas): Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg presents a graphic tale of an investigation marred by 'tunnel vision.'..."The State sought to have Chris’ allegations excluded from the trial arguing that it was - as tunnel vision dictates - “irrelevant.” Tunnel vision is the scientific method, inverted. As Wisconsin Innocence Project Director Keith Findley wrote in his exhaustive analysis of tunnel vision: “Evidence inconsistent with the chosen theory is easily overlooked or dismissed as irrelevant, incredible, or unreliable.” On August 5, 1996, Belynda was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison."........."Today marks Belynda Goff’s nineteenth Mother’s Day as an incarcerated mother, serving a life sentence for a murder she did not commit.........The police theory of the crime - developed almost immediately - was, as the prosecutor would tell jurors: “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Stephen had been unfaithful in the past and so, the State argued, Belynda must have killed him in a rage when he came home that night.........The police could not find bloody weapons or clothing in Belynda’s home so they surmised she must have cut up the clothing and flushed it down the toilet. While the police failed to find evidence to corroborate their theory, evidence that someone else had killed Stephen began to emerge. The evening before Belynda found her husband’s body, a neighbor had seen men with baseball bats parked in front of Belynda’s apartment. Fearing for her children’s safety, the neighbor reported the sighting to the police that day and again after the murder. According to Chris Lindley, Belynda’s brother, Stephen had asked Chris to join him in an arson scheme. They were to burn down a building in Flint, Michigan for $10,000. When Chris told Stephen he wanted to back out, according to Chris, Stephen became panicked, begged him to reconsider and told him that he (Stephen) had already spent the money and would be killed. About a week later Stephen was found dead. Two days after the murder Chris received an anonymous call stating he would be killed next if he opened his mouth. Belynda’s home was burned down before trial in a still unsolved arson. The State sought to have Chris’ allegations excluded from the trial arguing that it was - as tunnel vision dictates - “irrelevant.” Tunnel vision is the scientific method, inverted. As Wisconsin Innocence Project Director Keith Findley wrote in his exhaustive analysis of tunnel vision: “Evidence inconsistent with the chosen theory is easily overlooked or dismissed as irrelevant, incredible, or unreliable.” On August 5, 1996, Belynda was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison."
 https://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2016/05/belynda-goff-arkansas-elizabeth-weill.html

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Yes it is exoneration and freedom after more than two decades behind bars is a huge step forward. But under the re-sentencing order, Belynda Goff remains under court sanctions - including a provision that she commit no 'jailable' offences over the next ten years. This is hardly consistent with the innocence recognized by the court but may have been the price of having the State finally agree to support her freedom. Still, it is yet another example of the State insisting on its due - after  being shown to have charged and convicted  and zealously pursued an  innocent person. In a more positive vein, could this be an important first step in Belynda Goff  receiving the compensation  she deserves for having had so much of her life stolen from her?

Harold Levy: Publisher. The Charles Smith Blog.

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STORY: "Arkansas woman found guilty of killing husband in 1996 ordered freed," by  Northwest News reporter Bill Bowden, published by The Arkansas Democrat and Gazette  on June 27, 2019.
SUB-HEADING: "Paltry evidence would merit murder acquittal, judge says."






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