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January 24, 2014

Family Seeks New Trial for Black Teen Executed in 1944 
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The family of an African-American teenager executed in South Carolina
nearly 70 years ago is asking for a new trial. Fourteen-year-old George
Stinney Junior was put to death in 1944 for the murders of two white
girls. He was the youngest prisoner to be executed by the U.S.
government in the last century. In a historic move, Stinney's family
says they want the case re-tried in order to clear his name. Defense
attorney Miller Shealy says Stinney's family deserves justice.

Miller Shealy: "There was no cross examination that's what we know. This
case was handled so poorly, his family was treated so poorly, the
circumstances of March to June 1944 that his rights were snuffed out
then and it was only later when the state changed when the political
system changed and the criminal procedural revolution that they have
today that we are able to come before the court and even bring his
rights and case to the court in some way where he can get justice."

 

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