On August 20-22, 2019, a three-judge panel convened in Wake County to hear the case of State vs. James Blackmon (Wake – 83 CRS 84695). In 1988, Mr. Blackmon entered an alford plea for the September 28, 1979, murder of Helena Payton. At the end of the hearing, the three-judge panel unanimously concluded that Mr. Blackmon had proven by clear and convincing evidence that he was innocent of second-degree murder.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | From the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission | Lindsey Guice Smith, Executive Director On June 4-7, 2019, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission held a hearing related to two separate convictions for claimant Merritt Williams: State vs. Merritt Williams Drayton (Forsyth – 86 CRS 018809 – Wilson) and State vs. Merritt Williams Drayton (Forsyth – 86 …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | From the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission | Lindsey Guice Smith, Executive Director On January 18, 2019, a three-judge panel convened in Mecklenburg County to hear the case of State vs. Israel Grant (Mecklenburg – 05 CRS 244094; 05 CRS 076342). Mr. Grant was convicted for the August 15, 2005 robbery of Christina Adcock and Jason Taylor. At …
CHARLOTTE – A three-judge panel will convene in Mecklenburg County today to hear the case of State vs. Israel Grant. On November 29, 2017, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission held a hearing in State vs. Israel Grant (Mecklenburg – 05 CRS 244094; 05 CRS 076342). Grant was convicted for the August 15, 2005, robbery of Christina Adcock and Jason …
On November 14-16, 2018, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission held a hearing in State vs. James Blackmon (Wake – 83 CRS 84695). Mr. Blackmon was convicted for the September 28, 1979 murder of Helena Payton in her college dorm at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC. During the hearing, the Commission’s Executive Director, Lindsey Guice Smith, presented the case …
On October 1-5, 2018, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission held a hearing in State vs. Wallace Brandon Jones (Washington – 94 CRS 1973; 95 CRS 1965) and State vs. Leroy Spruill (Washington – 94 CRS 1566; 94 CRS 1984). Mr. Jones and Mr. Spruill were convicted for the December 18, 1993 murder and robbery of Frank Swain in Plymouth, …
