WCIV
A father and stepmother had been accused of killing Justin Lee Turner in 1989.
CNN
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Homicide expenses in opposition to Victor Lee Turner and Megan Renee Turner, who were arrested in January and charged within the 1989 chilly case loss of life of Justin Lee Turner, Victor’s son, had been dropped Friday by a South Carolina decide who questioned the viability of proof within the case.
The father and stepmother had been charged roughly 35 years after the physique of the 5-year-old boy was discovered close to his household’s residence, CNN beforehand reported.
Circuit Choose Roger Younger dominated the unique detective within the case modified his interpretations of the proof, and with greater than 20 witnesses both useless or unable to testify, the couple couldn’t put up a good protection and query witnesses who claimed they made incriminating statements, The Related Press reported.
The decide barred prosecutors from ever charging the couple once more, in response to the AP.
Talking exterior courtroom following the dismissal of expenses, the Turners professed their innocence. “I’m glad it’s over with,” Victor Turner mentioned. “I’m nonetheless unhappy about it. That’s all I can say about it proper now, however I can maintain my head up a little bit bit.”
“We didn’t do it,” Megan Turner mentioned.
Younger, in his ruling, mentioned, “This can be a circumstantial proof (case) which will depend on half on supposedly incriminating statements made to 3rd individuals. Unavailability of these witnesses for cross examination could be extremely prejudicial to the protection,” in response to the AP. The detective who investigated the case in 1989 was rehired by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Workplace in 2021 to overview chilly instances.
“Choose Younger has upheld the oath of his workplace by following the regulation,” the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement. “Because the testimony on the motions listening to revealed, the time that has handed since this despicable crime has resulted in witness testimony and proof that’s now unavailable. Moreover, errors that had been made 35 years in the past couldn’t be remedied.”
An affidavit offered to CNN by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Workplace in January mentioned the Turners, of Cross Hill, falsely reported their son lacking on March 3, claiming he by no means bought off the varsity bus. Witnesses, nevertheless, confirmed the kid was by no means on the bus, nor was he in attendance at college that day, their affidavits present.
In the end, the investigation decided the Turners had been the “final and solely individuals” to have seen their son alive and work together with him earlier than his loss of life, the paperwork launched earlier this yr mentioned.
“This isn’t the end result we had been looking for; nevertheless, we perceive the technicality of prosecuting instances from crimes that occurred years in the past,” Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis mentioned Friday in an announcement.
The household of Justin Turner, whereas asking for privateness, mentioned the justice system failed.
“Based mostly off the overwhelming proof, those chargeable for Justin’s loss of life had the prospect to face justice right here, however as an alternative selected to remain silent and face the ultimate justice handed out by God for eternity! The reality is there, the justice shouldn’t be.”
