At a brief press conference at the close of the today's court session, Terry Gilbert, lead attorney for the Estate of Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard, flanked by co-counsel George Carr, Sam Reese Sheppard, cousins from both the Sheppard and Reese families, and Sheppard family supporters, made comments including the following points:

SHEPPARD TEAM RESPONSE TO THE STATE'S CASE

1. In four weeks of testimony, the State has presented no evidence that makes Dr. Sam Sheppard more likely the killer than a third party.

 

2. The State has relied upon the 1954 coroners inquest and the unfair trial, showing their attempt to rewrite history, i.e., the facts found by the U.S. Supreme Court in Sheppard v. Maxwell (see "Required Reading" on our website at samreesesheppard.org). Further, the State has made efforts to attack prior jury verdicts by characterizing the 1954 trial as "calm and deliberative," and by reading the 1966 trial testimony of Dr. Kirk to argue to the jury that he was "slick."

 

3. The State has expended tax-payer dollars far in excess of $100,000: Most of their "experts" were related to the unnecessary exhumation of Marilyn Sheppard. Others of their experts were biased and unqualified. The "high-tech" computer system purchased specifically for this case was never used after the first week.

 

4. The State's attempts to attack the character of Dr. Sheppard violates Ohio Rules of Evidence, are irrelevant to the murder, and required the new, never-before-heard (in this case) theories of "powder keg" and manslaughter.

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The media and the public are invited to visit samreesesheppard.org. For regular, informal updates from the Sheppard support team, subscribe to "Sheppardlist" using the subscription box available on the above noted web page.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: Sam Reese Sheppard as well as his family and legal team are engaged in a civil trial and their focus must be on the conduct of that trial. The Sheppard legal team, as well as a family representative will be available when appropriate, approximately ten minutes after the end of the daily court session for appropriate comments. Requests for in-depth interviews and appearances must be made by contacting Abe Bonowitz (Pager 888-319-1369/message 800-973-6548 or via e-mail at abe@samreesesheppard.org) and will be considered if appropriate and as time permits.

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP)
PMB 297, 177 U.S. Hwy #1,
Tequesta, FL 33469
800-973-6548
www.cuadp.org
abe@cuadp.org