TN death row inmate demands release or a new trial

Lawyers for Paul Gregory House filed an appeal on Tuesday asking a federal judge to release him from his “illegal conviction and death sentence” unless the state grants a new trial within 90 days.

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that House, who is on Tennessee’s death row, could challenge his conviction because of new scientific evidence. House was convicted of rape and murder more than 20 years ago and has proclaimed his innocence from day one. Post-conviction DNA testing has shown that the jury heard false information about the forensic evidence collected and tested in the case.

Now, House’s case is back in the courtroom of the same federal judge who upheld his death sentence years ago.

"I’d like to think the judge would rule quickly," says Stephen Kissinger, the federal public defender representing House. "We are sitting around discussing whether this innocent person’s constitutional rights were violated while he is still sitting on death row."

But if the history of this convoluted case is any indication, a quick resolution is optimistic at best.

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. (Nashville Scene. 02/07/07)

 

• Innocence Project Press Release:
  
  06/12/06 – Supreme Court Ruling Will Have National Impact
  
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  Read the U.S. Supreme Court decision in House's case
  
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  Read the Innocence Project's amicus brief on House's behalf