The Timothy Hennis Case
It was not my plan to do this case next. I ended up in a discussion with a friend over this case after the MacDonald case due to the many similarities in the case. The friend, who thinks of herself as a true crime buff herself had not heard of this case so that is when I decided this should be the next one. If you do not know this case, or even if you do, continue reading. This case has many twists and turns but in essence is a landmark case. Issues are in the courts now with no precedence go on, meaning there has been no case like it. This is a case that challenges you to ask yourself what is morally right and what is legally right.
Undisputed Facts
1. On May 12, 1985 the bodies of Kathryn Eastburn and her daughters Erin (3) and Kara (5) were found in their home in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
2. Twenty-two month old Janna Eastburn was left alive in her crib inside the home.
3. Three days later Army Sargent, Timothy B. Hennis was arrested for the murders.
4. Tim had answered a newspaper ad the Eastburn's placed for a dog two days before the murders.
5. Tim was convicted for the murders in state court in 1986 and is sentenced to death.
6. Tim appeals and receives a new trial in 1989. Tim is acquitted in his second trial and his discharge from the Army is listed as honorable.
7. Upon his acquittal, Tim re-enlisted in the Army and subsequently retired in 2004.
8. In 2006, the Army brought Tim out of retirement and back to North Carolina (he was now living in the Pacific Northwest of the country) based on the fact they now say they have DNA evidence linking Tim to the Eastburn case.
9. After over four years of arguments and many delays Tim was brought to trial and in April 2010 was once again convicted of the murders and sentenced to death.
Disputed Facts:
1. Just like the Jeffrey MacDonald case, and most murder cases, the biggest dispute is of the guilt and innocence of the accused.
2. Tim stated in his first two trials that the only time he was in the home was when he visited concerning the dog. However, that story changed in the latest trial when it was presented that DNA of Tim's was found inside Kathryn Eastburn to say that Tim and Kathryn had been having an affair.
As with any case I could go on and on about the disputed facts. I just do not feel the need to do that here because in my opinion it simply does not matter so I will move on to my opinion.
My Opinion:
The main issue of this case, in my opinion, is not about whether Timothy Hennis is guilty necessarily, but the issue of Double Jeopardy.
I could argue with you the issue of DNA in cases in which take so long to be tested and how those samples were preserved. I could tell you that I could take issue with investigators, or police....etc who have stated in old cases how they had hoped something like DNA testing would be available in the future and hence preserved them. To be honest, how does someone know what the future will bring and how to adequately preserve something? However, if I were to dismiss DNA in old cases that convict people, to be fair I would have to dismiss DNA that have found people innocent and released from jail, and, well I am just not ready to make that leap. When it comes to things like this you cannot pick and choose what is good and what is bad, you have to take it all as a whole. So, in this case, absent any indication of DNA contamination, I simply have to accept the results that were given in his last and final trial. Those results largely relied on the fact of a sexual assault and the finding of Tim's DNA inside Kathryn Eastburn. The other somewhat difference in this case is that DNA was coming to light in Tim's first two trials in 1986 and 1989 but was not yet accepted by the courts in North Carolina. So, since the idea was out there, it is possible
That being said I have to say I think he is guilty. What makes this case unique for me is that while I feel he is guilty, I do not believe he should be in jail. In fact, I do not believe his last trial should have even happened through his court martial based on the double jeopardy rule. Of course his lawyers were adamantly arguing this point, to which they still do. The law against double jeopardy prevents someone from being charged for a crime after being acquittal through a court. This means if in fact a guilty person is found not guilty through a court they can go out on the steps of the courthouse and state their guilt. One could also argue the definition given in the movie Double Jeopardy in which a woman is convicted of the murder of her husband, who in fact is not dead and had faked his death. In the movie a fellow inmates lets her know that after she has served her time she could murder the man in the middle of Times Square and she could not be charged... she had already served time for that charge. My position is that, while of course, there are generally situations in which this law prevents the guilty from being caught, it prevents witch hunts in which prosecutors or detectives are convinced someone is guilty and continually charge them until they get the result they want. Reality of it is however, it is the law.
Not only does my biggest issue on the fact that the military was allowed to charge him after and acquittal, I take issue with the fact that he was no longer technically a member of the military as he had retired two years prior to them bringing him in. I have seen reports that the courts dismissed the double jeopardy issue based on all but stating the military is a separate entity. When addressing the fact of his retirement, they have all but stated, not in so many words, once you are military, you are always military. Granted, Tim was an official member of the military when the crime occurred. However, the military did not charge him and conduct his first trial, the state of North Carolina did.
Do I condone murder and murderers? The absolute general answer would be no. This is the only case that I can think of off the top of my head that I can say I do think the accused is likely guilty but should not be in jail. I can think of another case (which I will blog about at a later time) in which I believe the accused is guilty, should have received jail time (in which she did), is not a case of self-defense but feel the victims asked for what they got. But, just as this case, it is the only case in which I feel this way. That is not to say that I have not disagreed in many cases on the amount of punishment given but as long as the law is followed, until laws are changed it "is what it is." In the Hennis case it has been reported that there has never been another case such as this. This means that no precedence has been set. Guilty or not, if this last conviction stands it means that members of our military face different laws and rules than the general public. We are telling people if they put their lives on the line for their country we will try you until we get you and that puts the innocent at a disadvantage. This case is not as much about Timothy Hennis as it is about future laws and rights of the people.
Undisputed Facts
1. On May 12, 1985 the bodies of Kathryn Eastburn and her daughters Erin (3) and Kara (5) were found in their home in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
2. Twenty-two month old Janna Eastburn was left alive in her crib inside the home.
3. Three days later Army Sargent, Timothy B. Hennis was arrested for the murders.
4. Tim had answered a newspaper ad the Eastburn's placed for a dog two days before the murders.
5. Tim was convicted for the murders in state court in 1986 and is sentenced to death.
6. Tim appeals and receives a new trial in 1989. Tim is acquitted in his second trial and his discharge from the Army is listed as honorable.
7. Upon his acquittal, Tim re-enlisted in the Army and subsequently retired in 2004.
8. In 2006, the Army brought Tim out of retirement and back to North Carolina (he was now living in the Pacific Northwest of the country) based on the fact they now say they have DNA evidence linking Tim to the Eastburn case.
9. After over four years of arguments and many delays Tim was brought to trial and in April 2010 was once again convicted of the murders and sentenced to death.
Disputed Facts:
1. Just like the Jeffrey MacDonald case, and most murder cases, the biggest dispute is of the guilt and innocence of the accused.
2. Tim stated in his first two trials that the only time he was in the home was when he visited concerning the dog. However, that story changed in the latest trial when it was presented that DNA of Tim's was found inside Kathryn Eastburn to say that Tim and Kathryn had been having an affair.
As with any case I could go on and on about the disputed facts. I just do not feel the need to do that here because in my opinion it simply does not matter so I will move on to my opinion.
My Opinion:
The main issue of this case, in my opinion, is not about whether Timothy Hennis is guilty necessarily, but the issue of Double Jeopardy.
I could argue with you the issue of DNA in cases in which take so long to be tested and how those samples were preserved. I could tell you that I could take issue with investigators, or police....etc who have stated in old cases how they had hoped something like DNA testing would be available in the future and hence preserved them. To be honest, how does someone know what the future will bring and how to adequately preserve something? However, if I were to dismiss DNA in old cases that convict people, to be fair I would have to dismiss DNA that have found people innocent and released from jail, and, well I am just not ready to make that leap. When it comes to things like this you cannot pick and choose what is good and what is bad, you have to take it all as a whole. So, in this case, absent any indication of DNA contamination, I simply have to accept the results that were given in his last and final trial. Those results largely relied on the fact of a sexual assault and the finding of Tim's DNA inside Kathryn Eastburn. The other somewhat difference in this case is that DNA was coming to light in Tim's first two trials in 1986 and 1989 but was not yet accepted by the courts in North Carolina. So, since the idea was out there, it is possible
That being said I have to say I think he is guilty. What makes this case unique for me is that while I feel he is guilty, I do not believe he should be in jail. In fact, I do not believe his last trial should have even happened through his court martial based on the double jeopardy rule. Of course his lawyers were adamantly arguing this point, to which they still do. The law against double jeopardy prevents someone from being charged for a crime after being acquittal through a court. This means if in fact a guilty person is found not guilty through a court they can go out on the steps of the courthouse and state their guilt. One could also argue the definition given in the movie Double Jeopardy in which a woman is convicted of the murder of her husband, who in fact is not dead and had faked his death. In the movie a fellow inmates lets her know that after she has served her time she could murder the man in the middle of Times Square and she could not be charged... she had already served time for that charge. My position is that, while of course, there are generally situations in which this law prevents the guilty from being caught, it prevents witch hunts in which prosecutors or detectives are convinced someone is guilty and continually charge them until they get the result they want. Reality of it is however, it is the law.
Not only does my biggest issue on the fact that the military was allowed to charge him after and acquittal, I take issue with the fact that he was no longer technically a member of the military as he had retired two years prior to them bringing him in. I have seen reports that the courts dismissed the double jeopardy issue based on all but stating the military is a separate entity. When addressing the fact of his retirement, they have all but stated, not in so many words, once you are military, you are always military. Granted, Tim was an official member of the military when the crime occurred. However, the military did not charge him and conduct his first trial, the state of North Carolina did.
Do I condone murder and murderers? The absolute general answer would be no. This is the only case that I can think of off the top of my head that I can say I do think the accused is likely guilty but should not be in jail. I can think of another case (which I will blog about at a later time) in which I believe the accused is guilty, should have received jail time (in which she did), is not a case of self-defense but feel the victims asked for what they got. But, just as this case, it is the only case in which I feel this way. That is not to say that I have not disagreed in many cases on the amount of punishment given but as long as the law is followed, until laws are changed it "is what it is." In the Hennis case it has been reported that there has never been another case such as this. This means that no precedence has been set. Guilty or not, if this last conviction stands it means that members of our military face different laws and rules than the general public. We are telling people if they put their lives on the line for their country we will try you until we get you and that puts the innocent at a disadvantage. This case is not as much about Timothy Hennis as it is about future laws and rights of the people.
Couple points that strike me (although I have a long way to go in research on this case)-
ReplyDelete*I have a MAJOR issue with the military charging him, after he was found not guilty by a civilian court. But, I can see how the military jurisdiction could be enforced, since he was an officer of the military at the time of the crime. But, if the court rules that another court cannot seek justice for a crime after one has failed to do so, then OJ could never have been tried in a civil court. The further I go, the more I think the courts have the right to act as they have. It is a monumental case.
* Like JM, there is lot of witnesses changing their stories, and so it really comes down to the dna. I know you disagree, but the use of dna to implicate someone previously found not guilty could be the ultimate law this case sets. I absolutely believe that we can use old dna to set wrongly convicted free, without using it against those found not guilty previously.
It is the prosecutors case, and they must prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, in a timely matter, to a jury of peers of the accused. I firmly believe that to use any evidence on a freed suspect is unethical. There is no reason to test dna from a "solved" case. If the prosecutor thinks the jury got it wrong, he wont be the first in history to believe so. But the case is dead at that point. I really question who had and why was the old dna even tested against Hennis, a legally free man. I might argue his civil rights had been violated in doing so.
Our Constitution provides that a man is innocent until proven guilty. If he is found guilty, he has the right to appeal at any time, should new evidence that prove their innocence become available. Groups like the Innocence Project have made great strides with applying old evidence (IF it was preserved) with new science. This, I believe, is great work, and protects our citizens. It also provides hope to past convictions, especially those comprised of circumstantial evidence.
So, can you use evidence to free the wrongly convicted, without allowing it to capture the wrongly freed??? ABSOLUTELY! The wrongly freed have already been tried, and found not guilty; the authorities have already had their day in court against this defendant. To dredge up preserved evidence against not-guilty (different than innocent) is to impose a double-jeopardy. While, to use preserved evidence to free wrongly convicted is to preserve their right to re-establish their innocence through appeal, at a future point when "new" evidence (or new applications of evidence) become available.
*So I have come the the crossroads, where my arguments collide-lol. Can a court with parallel jurisdiction try a freed suspect (I said, "yes") with dna examined fluids from old evidence(I said, "no"). Can my position still stand? I maintain it can, because a parallel-jurisdiction (in this case, military; in OJs case, civil) should NOT, I believe, be able to enter evidence not technologically available at the time of the crime. This, I think, creates a post-technology jury, which is NOT of the peers of the accused! If we allow prosecutors to sit on old evidence AFTER THEY LOSE THE CASE, and submit it to future technology advances, we have contradicted the protections of our Constitution, and removed the protection against Double Jeopardy. Once we have given the government their day in court, and found them lacking, they don't get another shot. It is not fair for a prosecutor to just wait on science, and hand the case off to a parallel court. Unlike WRONGFULLY convicted defendants, the prosecutors are not guaranteed an appeal; they don't have to wait on science breakthroughs from a prison cell. Furthermore, the State cant expect a defendant to defend himself against science that was non existent at the time of the crime; postdna juries on predna crimes are not a jury of the defendants peers.
I just watched this case on "Death Row Stories". With all the twists I decided to look it up to see how it stood today. And the one and only thing that leaves me on the fence is that little bit of information about the scandal in the crime lab where the semen was tested. I haven't heard anything more said about it, was someone tampering with it, why were people fired? Why is there no more information about this? WHY IS OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM SO CORRUPT? NOT TO MENTION OUR GOVERNMENT?
DeleteThey sent it to another crime lab and it came back the same thing. The monster is guilty
DeleteJust a quick point about old evidence. A case is only "solved" with a conviction. If a suspect is tried and acquitted, then legally someone else must have done it. Therefore, the case is still open. Police and prosecutors hang onto evidence in the hopes that they can match it to a future suspect. DNA matching programs are computerised, they're not coded to exclude a profile based on previous trials. It would be insanely difficult to code each sample that way.
DeleteThat said, if the matching program gets a hit on an acquitted suspect, bad luck. You tried, you failed, new evidence does not allow double jeopardy.
You sort of have a point with OJ.. but you not really. Civil and Criminal courts are different and double jeopardy applies only to criminal. In the case of OJ he was CHARGED with murder, acquitted, and then was SUED for being "responsible for the death" (it's all in the wording :) ). In the latter it was not criminal in which he would be facing jail time.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the DNA I get what you are saying... but first remember this was not a "solved" case. Remembering off the top of my head, I believe while the prosecutors and investigators were convinced they had the right man, by law it was not solved. By the looks of it they never likely did investigate if further after his acquittal until such time they turned the samples in for testing. And while I agree that in this case the DNA probably got it right, I do agree that it should not have been used against someone who had been acquitted. Prosecutors have a DUTY to hold on to a case until they believe they can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt and if they lose... then that's their problem.
I DO have a point with OJ, that it was parallel jurisdictions, which is what the military is claiming.... OJ was responsible for his actions to the state (criminal) AND to the family (civil), simultaneously, with one act. Military is claiming this kind of simultaneous jurisdiction, in order to say his responsibility to the military is not fulfilled by a state criminal trial.
ReplyDeleteSince I wrote all this out, it has occurred to me that both othe THs trial courts are holding him responsibility criminally. That is, both seek to punish him with prison time or death. For this reason, THs attorneys may be able to successfully argue that his criminal responsibility has been fulfilled by the state. I really hope TH is successful in this aspect of his appeal- whether or not he is guilty- because I think the military didn't act properly in bringing TH to Court Marshal. The way TH was forced back into active duty, in order to give the military power to indict him, really doesn't inspire service to Country.
The case against TH was CLOSED when they found him not guilty. Legal statutes give time limitations to prosecutors, based on the crime. For a triple murder, there is no time limit. Whenever the prosecutor brings his case to court, that is his case.
By the LAW OJ was not responsible for his action in a criminal court.. yes in a civil court. Many (not sure I am one of them) argue that it's BS that someone can be found 'responsible' for a death after acquittal for murder because the civil courts are not "beyond a reasonable doubt" and a "preponderance of evidence." I disagree with what the military is saying because he was on active duty when the murders happened and they didn't take jurisdiction then. Hubby was telling me since he'd only been retired for two years the military had the right to get him... of course I explained that I didn't really care if they had the "right" as the issued lies with double jeopardy.
ReplyDeleteNot only does it not inspire service to our country... what it DOES inspire is witch hunts! I have only heard of one (maybe two) other cases, non military, where someone was charged in state and then charged in federal court for murder... of course certain things had to apply to make it federal. I personally fear that if this case does not go in his favor the ramifications to others in the future.
Yes, the case against TH was closed. But the case of the murder was not. I do however, believe he case was not investigated after he was acquittal because all the investigators and prosecutors believed despite the verdict he was guilty. I guarantee you that when the DNA testing became available the first and ONLY person tested was TH. But as you and I have argued privately, absent proof of contamination by the crime techs... the lab... anyone there's little that can be done in that aspect. It would not surprise me if they did find some proof but at this point it is all speculation and in case after case it has been claimed that it was not collected, preserved... etc properly. Claims aren't proof and the second the courts start throwing out DNA based solely on claims is the second that DNA becomes useless, and that will never happen.
Military law did not change for Tim Hennis. You are forgetting that the military has had this legal process in place for a long time prior to this murder. Being an active member of the military, Hennis should have known about this possibility, as should all military members. There is no double jeopardy in this case. Double jeopardy is in reference to a crime tried more than once in one jurisdiction. You are misunderstanding legal terms here. Different jurisdictions = not double jeopardy.
DeleteWhat is Tim Hennis date of birth ? Can not find that fact in any article (6/24/2015) anyone know ?
DeleteBy the law he was not GUILTY in a criminal court. But OJ was responsible to answer to a criminal court of the state. He was also responsible to answer to a civil court. This is a distinction of jurisdiction, not guilt.
ReplyDeleteOur system allows for persons to be called to answer for their actions in parallel courts. By that I mean, one act can get you into hot water with different courts. If they have jurisdiction over your actions- by means of time, location, or actions- one absolutely can be brought before multiple courts.
In this case, Tim Hennis, his appeals current are based on double jeopardy violation. I think it absolutely sucks that TH was tried again for this murder. I don't think it's fair. I don't think the military behaved honorably towards a soldier who served. I don't think is just that the military can bring someone out of retirement, just to Court Marshal them. I don't think it is fair that the military was able to force TH to reenlist, in order to reclaim their jurisdiction. But, I do NOT think his appeals on the double jeopardy grounds will be successful, and I will tell you why...
*The US Supreme Court is not going to strip the military of its power to claim jurisdiction. All of the "loopholes" that led to TH being tried again, are legal, according to the laws governing military action. It sucks. It shouldn't be. But it was legal, and ultimately the military court did what it was within its right to do. And if the end goal is to trap a killer, the courts all believe they have succeeded.
*These types of opportunities for applications of these laws, in this order, in this way.... doesn't happen very often. And, when it does, the US Supreme court still hold the ultimate power to review them on a case-by-case basis (just like they can here). For this reason, there is no cause for the US Supreme court to overturn the ruling of the military system. ESPECIALLY in this particular case, where the consensus is that this person is guilty. In order to be successful, TH would have to persuade the USS Court to 1:Take on the military, and 2:Release a man believed to be guilty! Not gonna happen.
In either case, this case is on track to become the new case law; the way this case plays out can be used as example in future similar cases. It is an interesting case, but may not be as important as we think. I believe that, in the end, the US Supreme Court will drop this case like a hot potato.
Hold on to your shorts Kim... I totally agree. This case should have NEVER EVER made it to the third trial but it is highly unlikely, or improbable, that any appeals will work, based on what you said. I would be totally surprised if it is.
ReplyDeleteI do stand by my belief that he is likely and probably guilty of this crime but for me in a way I am less concerned the outcome of all appeal for his sake than I am for other military people in the future. Well, not just military for that matter. What happens when this goes through and they find other loopholes in other ways to basically all but erase the whole point of double jeopardy. There are too many investigators and DA's out there who are so convinced in their cases that they will do whatever it takes until they get the answer they want. Then of course while I am typing this I am also thinking "I hope they can find that loophole and pull Casey Anthony back in" but in reality as much as I would love to see that happen I cannot condone it because just as we all "know" she was guilty, there are DA's convinced that others are that I would likely disagree.
Right-- this would be case law for any parallel courts... not just implication for the military. I think he has better appeal options at lower levels, with dna, jury, and chain of evidence issues. Right now they are banging the loudest drum, to raise support for someone who is probably guilty.....UHOH!! just returned to She-Who-Shant-Be-Named!!! lmao
ReplyDeleteThis is what is wrong with our judicial system...
ReplyDeleteJust because he served his country does not make him any better than the next person. You have to earn that honor and Tim Hennis lost that honor the day he murdered those people. The military lost all respect for him once ,from his own addmission , disgraced the code of the military. Cheating on your wife, sleeping with another service member's wife (as by his own words they were having an affair which I am sure was a lie)commting murder, lying to the military for years. The loyalty of the military was to the Easteburn family. Th disgraced his country with his actions.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Blah blah blah...the point is he is guilty. If he can collect retirement and get veterans benefits he is still military. He committed the crimes while on duty. The DNA was tested cause it was a cold case and they were hoping to find a hit in the database. Oops...the computer didn't know about the legal bullshit. I absolutely think DNA evidence from the past should be able to both clear and convict. If someone says yes to freeing the guilty but no to charging those found not guilty that is ridiculous. Double Jeopardy is to stop the ridiculousness of wasting time and money trying the same person over and over again for the same crime which is good. In this instance the guy is guilty and the 2nd jury made a mistake. They found a loophole to convict the jerk which is much more fair and just than allowing a murder to walk the streets with our children. And that is the whole point.
DeleteI totally agree with the writer of this article ( which is well written and covers almost all my many faceted concerns, individually i might add ) Yes, Tim Hennis is, and always was, in all probability one guilty SOB, but the law is the law for a reason! Double Jeopardy was designed to protect the innocent in the event the state or an errant DA's office has decided to file one murder charge after another (identical) murder charge, after another until their intended verdict is reached When an american citizen has been tried and acquitted, his rights whether guilty or innocent should be respected and upheld. Regardless of our own personal opinion's or bias this man was tried and acquitted and the criminal court system was used in the way it was designed. It is unfortunate that the highly respected and professional team of lawyers working for the prosecution has failed to provide "beyond a reasonable doubt" definitive proof that he was guilty..... and so he was acquitted.Under no circumstances should the state or the government be allowed to retry Mr. Hennis for the same crime. ever agian! regardless of wheter he was an active service member or not. He may have took lives but when he put his life on the line for his country, somehow his personal liberties got skewered along the way which is unnaceptable only because somebody in his position may be innocent in a future situation and be contiuously hunted down like an animal. Mr Hennis then went on with his life, careful i might add not to commit another serious crime and re-enlisted in the service. Tim Hennis, guilty as he likely is should be a free man so that our judicial system is not tainted and can be held to the high standard it should be. individual rights should not be thrown out the window because of military service or things of this nature but should remain in place during any and all witch hunts or good intentioned crucibles
ReplyDeleteAnd if Hennis HADN'T been tried and convicted the last time, a baby murderer would be free to roam the streets. You're forgetting that MILITARY law WAS followed here. Yes, there is the issue of double jeopardy when a person is tried again in state court. The military has always been legally able to pursue a criminal case as it's own jurisdiction, separate from state jurisdiction. Military members are aware that this is a possibility if they commit a crime. If they disagree with it, they shouldn't join the military. A law was not bent or broken here. The civilian public may not know about this fairly seldomly-used legal tactic, but it has existed far prior to this case. Thank God the military has this legal ability. I cannot fathom wanting to let this man go free due to infringement on his civil rights. He was an active military member, and that makes him fair game to this strategy. Period. I'm elated this piece of disgusting filth will rot in prison.
DeleteI don't see how anyone can be glad that he is on death row..he killed A.I'm and children. They knew he did it.
DeleteFantastic article and also fantastic debating between Author and Kimberly.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I am confused about one aspect of this case. If he was a disgrace to the military and with him betraying all of the fundamental moral codes of the Army, how or why was he recalled to service? Why would they allow him, a man of no moral conduct, to be in charge, lead or even speak to other military personnel? I understand that they probably had meeting after meeting to find loop-holes that would put this man behind bars for life but to do so so brazenly and openly it makes me wonder.
The US Army has right to recall you at any point afar you retire if, during service, you did something illegal. I had a friend who was suspected of taking $2,000 gift during his retirement party. He was recalled 3 years later and investigated.
DeleteUpon retirement from the services, they still have the ability to recall you back to service for a certain amount of years; kind of like an inactive reservist type of thing. In case of a war, if they needed ou the COULD recall you but you'd be last on the list of potentials. But it still possible. I supose they could do it for crimes as well.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Fort Bragg trial. I sat with the Hennis family. I believe the neighbor killed them. And I am not the only one who believes that to be true.
ReplyDeletewhich neighbor???
DeleteThe neighbor's DNA was not found anywhere in the home. Hennis' DNA was found INSIDE the victim. He very obviously murdered this family, and if there was any evidence "the neighbor" killed them, Hennis' attorneys would have milked that for all it was worth.
Deletethat just means he had sex with her,not that he killed her. what about all the dna at the scene that the judge in the military trial wouldn't even allow them to test?
DeleteMaybe this IS what one could call "justice".......
ReplyDeleteI believe an exception should be made when DNA evidence, or new methods that are shown to be incredibly reliable (who knows what the future holds), find the murderer like this case, to retry in murder cases. By your logic, where you're here saying laws are laws for a reason, then the innocent, when once convicted by a jury, even wrongly - yet which was done the legal way and you say laws are laws for a reason - then should evidence uncovered later that exonerates that person, who was convicted in the legal fashion, all lawfully, be set free? I mean if a jury was fooled, no fault of theirs, but did it all legally, and convicted an innocent person, should we throw THAT out later? I guess you would argue, we should not because as you say laws are laws are laws for a reason and there should be NO loopholes to let that innocent person out of jail because he was put their legally, albeit wrongly.
ReplyDeleteHey Natalie Sorton, you said that you believe the neighbor did the killings, (not TH) and you are not the only one who believes that to be true....well let me go out on a limb and take a wild guess and say that the other people that agree with you are the TH family who you were sitting next to at the last trial.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan;
ReplyDeleteYou state that the law "is what it is". Well, the law is that the Double Jeopardy Clause does not apply multi-jurisdictionally. Tim had been acquitted in a state court. Thus, if the federal government or other jurisdiction has a jurisdiction, they can prosecute a person and vice versa. See for instance US v. Devine, 934 F.2d 1325, 1343 (5th Cir. 1991); US v. Lanza, 260 US 377, 382 (1992); Bartkus v. Illinois, 359 US 121 (1959).
Dear Susan,
ReplyDeleteI have to respectfully disagree with you on the issue of double jeopardy. In the constitution, there is a thing as the separate sovereigns clause meaning that federal and state governments are both sovereign entities. The supreme court has ruled several times that even if you are acquitted in one sovereign jurisdiction, you can be tried in a separate sovereign if that act violates its laws. One example is the Rodney king case were four officers were acquitted in a state court of assaulting King but two of them were convicted in a federal court for violating King's civil rights under color of law.
I never once thought he was guilty. I really think you need to look at the Ronald gray case. I will never believe Timothy hennis never did this crime. many people can steal, show DNA if he did it. if they can find him murdered back in the 50's by DNA there should not be excuses why you can't find the real killer and not kill an innocent man
ReplyDeleteDid you not catch the reason WHY he was finally convicted?? You said "show me DNA he did it". Um, they have shown us DNA. They found Hennis' DNA inside the RAPED murder victim. No one else's DNA was found inside the victim. I'm not even sure what the rest of your comment means.
DeleteNot being able to figure out how to add my real name, I'm also listed as 'anonymous' on this blog..my comment follows this. My name is Brenda and while I'm not the author you are replying to, I think I know what they mean: that they don't believe the dna evidence against Hennis because it could have been tampered with... as much as 30 years ago, in fact. How was it stored? WHO might have wanted to cross contaminate those vaginal swabs with Hennis' oral swabs? TOO many unanswered questions remain/
DeleteWhether Mr. Hennis is guilty or not, having the wrong detective trying to help him get off death row is critical. Hiring William Hagler, from North Carolina, who is not licensed in anything, is a major mistake. The law firm that is working with William Hagler knows he is a fake but have chosen to ignore that because he has info they need. But if it's introduced in court as more evidence it can also be dismissed because Hagler is not licensed as a private investigator, merely posing as one. Hagler will taint the case and if Hennis is innocent all that will result is more damage.
ReplyDeleteI just finished Whisnant's book for the third reading in 10 years and have read every article I could find online for the past ten years regarding Hennis. As for the many people who I have heard slam the book as biased in Hennis' favor: I believe that's untrue..even if he became convinced of his innocence while researching the book, I think he presented a fair book. NOW, as to the present and the DNA evidence: Who had control of the evidence for all these years? Seems to me it was the same people who pronounced Hennis guilty the minute he came into police headquarters to say he bought the dog. IF he is guilty and the evidence was not tampered with (remember OJ and the cops getting caught planting his blood on a glove or sock? because they KNEW he was guilty and were only found out because the blood contained the substance used to preserve the blood that they had taken from OJ?) I'm one of the few Caucasian people in the US who have that memory, hmm. I don't trust law enforcement or prosecutors one bit when their jobs hinge on a fast arrest/conviction. And some very arrogant people in this case will NEVER admit they were wrong..maybe even if they have to manipulate evidence to prove themselves right. I'd have to know that some entity like the FBI kept the evidence all these years and tested it themselves. I sure wouldn't trust the NC labs, which have recently been found to have changed test results in law enforcement's favor and been prosecuted for it. Also, I sure would like to know how a person kills 3 people, including 2 beautiful kids, walks around for hours cleaning up and stealing, leaving not one bit of himself behind or any clue that is discovered for 30 years. ?? How a person lives for the next 30 years ..and he would have to be a sociopath..but never shows any other signs of his craziness? Either he was a true sociopathic genius or the techs and detectives searching the house were utter morons. Patrick Cone? If I were betting my money would be on him at least as the person who stole and used the bankcard. I discounted every word he said. I'm not saying Hennis couldn't have done it, sure he may have..but it leaves way too many questions unanswered. Unless Hennis or someone confesses and explains a BUNCH, this will remain a true mystery to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about the remaining evidence. I don't understand how this could have been done by an individual, and there be so much non-matched evidence.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible, he had an affair (not to say Army wives do it all the time, but there is a Jodi in every barracks). Even if not an affair, maybe a hook-up.
The dna under the finger nails strike me the most valuable. dna there is typically defensive. If someone else participated or entirely committed this crime, for the sake of the victims, justice should be complete. We need to keep an open mind that someone else may have been involved, and anyone involved should answer for their crimes.