More Evidence of Misconduct In Reggie Clemons Case
March 29, 2013 •
New evidence has emerged reinforcing the contention that Reggie Clemons’ trial was marred by misconduct; a judge’s recommendations are expected by June 1 (Photo Credit: Color of Justice).
On March 18, the final oral arguments in the “Special Master” investigation of Reggie Clemons‘ case were held in Independence, Missouri. Reggie Clemons was sentenced to death in 1993 after a disturbingly flawed investigation and trial.
At the Clemons hearing before Special Master Judge Michael Manners last September, evidence of police brutality and prosecutorial misconduct in his case was presented, and this month that evidence was reinforced by new testimony of a bail investigator named Warren Weeks.
In a video-taped deposition, Weeks said that he saw evidence that Clemons had been brutalized – a golf-ball sized bump on his head – and that he submitted a written report of this observation. Weeks testified that prosecutor Nels Moss attempted to intimidate him about the report. The report obtained by Clemons’ current attorneys and presented to Judge Manners had the word “bump” or “bruise” scratched out.
Judge Manners himself, during the four-hour hearing this month, is reported to have said:
“There was shoddy police work almost beyond comprehension … when I said shoddy I meant they took a path of least resistance, closing an investigation early as it was the easiest thing to do.”
Does this mean Reggie Clemons will get a new trial, or at least have his death sentence quashed? Maybe.Judge Manners announced on the 18th that his final recommendations would be completed by June 1, so we will know in a month or two.
In the meantime, we need to keep taking action for Reggie Clemons, and keep spreading the word about his case. The fundamentally flawed nature of cases like this – and there are many cases like this – is one very obvious and compelling reason why the death penalty must be abolished.
This would only happen to a black person in this country. – When are we ever going to learn honest trial behavior ? – I sincerly hope Reggie gets, at the very least, an honest re-trial.
Jim McQuaide
Silver City, NM
This is not a case of race. This is a case of Justice. Why is it okay for him to rape and kill two young girls and injure their cousin, but he should not get in trouble for it? The cousin, Tom, was also abused by the cops and he received a settlement for their wrong doings because he was INNOCENT. Clemons is in no way innocent. If you truly believe that he took no part in these murders you are an ignorant person. Read articles and stories from the other side of this argument. I suggest you read the book A Rip in Heaven because this case has nothing to do with race and everything to do with the four men's brutality and the innocent young women they killed.
A Rip In Heaven was written by one of the alleged victims sister. And that victim, Tom, was initially charged in the murders so the book is a little biased, correct? So, I would not necessarily call anyone ignorant because they choose not to believe this one sided biased novel like you chose to do. Maybe just a differing opinion. Maybe YOU need to read the other side of the story and other articles before coming to a conclusion using only one side of the story.
I knew Reggie personally. I was a child then. A teenager…14-15 Years old, and I had spent MANY MANY MANY hours with Reggie alone in my mothers home while she was at work from 11 PM-7PM. Reggie never did anything to me. He could have done a number of things, but he NEVER hurt me, Never scared me, and I'm still alive. I don't believe he killed those girls. Judge me if you will, but the opportunity was there for him and NO ONE knew he was there with me on those nights. He could have done me in and no one would have known who the culperet was. I don't care what articles you read, or what you think you know. I knew him personally and he was a good loving soul. He might have been around, but he didn't kill them. You can't convince me of anything different. Good luck in your judgement, he deserves to be free.
With all of the recent exonerations it is unbelievable to me that this has gone on for so long. Every time we think that this nightmare for the Thomas/Clemons family is about to receive some justice, it begins a new chapter. The evidence is overwhelming. The lie that was told by Thomas Cummins about swimming the Mississippi next to his cousin who drowned, however his hair was not even wet. This all seems to be something that evolves around the happenings of a dysfunctional family…who has basically gotten away and allowed another family to suffer for something that never would have resulted in the same type punishment for them. More than likely it would have been declared an accident.