DENVER, Colo. (KFOR) — A federal appeals court docket has thrown out the conviction of convicted killer Karl Fontenot, whose case gained nationwide consideration after being profiled in ‘The Harmless Man.’
Fontenot and Tommy Ward have been each tried and convicted of the 1984 homicide of Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma.
In recent times, specialists have come to imagine the killers’ confessions have been coerced.
The circumstances are two of a number of Ponotoc County convictions below scrutiny.
Ward and Fontenot have been profiled in a latest Netflix documentary titled, “The Harmless Man.”
Final yr, Fontenot’s conviction was overturned by federal district Choose James Payne.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Court docket of Appeals for the tenth Circuit voted two to at least one to affirm Payne’s ruling and vacate Fontenot’s conviction.
The State of Oklahoma has 120 days to resolve to re-try the case or ask the U.S. Supreme Court docket to step in.
The disposition of Fontenot’s case has implications for Tommy Ward.
Ward and Fontenot’s appeals are separate, however the information of the case are equivalent.
Fontenot was launched from jail final yr.
Ward continues to be held behind bars in Oklahoma.
District Choose Paula Inge additionally dominated Ward’s conviction ought to be vacated.
Ward’s attraction will probably be heard by the Oklahoma Court docket of Prison Appeals.
Fontenot’s case was the primary filed by the Oklahoma Innocence Undertaking at Oklahoma Metropolis College.
