Article summary
An Alabama district attorney has filed a brief supporting a new trial for death row inmate Toforest Johnson, citing flaws in the 1998 conviction. The district attorney, Danny Carr, highlighted the findings of a post-conviction review that cast doubt on the integrity of the conviction. Johnson was convicted in the 1995 killing of a Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff but now has credible alibi witnesses and doubts about the key prosecution witness.
The legal battle for a new trial has gained national attention, with support from prominent figures like former Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley. Johnson’s daughter expressed gratitude for Carr’s support and hopes for a family reunion after years of separation. The Alabama Supreme Court recently upheld a decision denying a separate request for a new trial, but the fight for justice continues in the circuit court.
Despite challenges from the attorney general’s office, the pursuit of a fair trial for Johnson remains steadfast, marking a crucial moment in the effort to correct past injustices and reunite a family torn apart by a flawed conviction.