In 2020, Fontenot's co-defendant in the case, Tommy Ward, also had his conviction overturned in state court, but prosecutors have appealed that decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. The courts exhaustively reviewed voluminous amounts of withheld exculpatory evidence and correctly concluded that this is the rare case in which a habeas petitioner has credibly demonstrated actual innocence, the lawyers said. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judges ruling last year, saying that, Almost no evidence connected him to the crime other than his own videotaped confession, a confession that rang false in almost every particular., The appeals court said Fontenot has brought forth new evidence that is sufficient to unlock the actual innocence gateway and to allow his substantive claims to be heard on the merits. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Tommy Ward one of the subjects of Netflixs true-crime docuseries The Innocent Man, who was convicted of abduction, rape and the murder of an Oklahoma woman is to be released from prison (where he was sentenced to life) and all charges against him dismissed, Wards legal team announced Saturday. However, she would never be seen alive again. ADVERTISEMENT and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. The. The Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 that 60-year-old Tommy Ward remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. However, court documents filed on Monday (29 August) show that on Friday (26 August), Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the judges decision and reinstated Wards conviction. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Ward's newly released EP From This Moment On, (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities and features truly unique arrangements played by some of the world's most respected musicians, including Bill Cunliffe, John Pattitucci, Vinny Colaiuta, and others. Per The Associated Press, the convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams, and came after hours of interrogation by Ada police and state agents desperate to solve the disappearance of Haraway in 1984, just two years after the unsolved rape and murder of another young woman in the small central Oklahoma town.. Haraway had been shot rather than stabbed, was 20 miles away from where the men said her body had been dumped, and she had been wearing different clothes than those Ward and Fontenot described. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. John 3:16. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. But a Pontotoc County district judge ruled last month that prosecutors withheld key evidence in the case, including witness interviews and police reports, and ordered Wards release. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. OK man arrested for. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. Tuesday 30 August 2022 23:08 Tommy Ward in the 2018 Netflix docuseries 'The Innocent Man' (Netflix) A prisoner featured in the Netflix documentary series The Innocent Man has had his murder. Both are model prisoners. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. Ward and co-defendant Karl Fontenot's initial convictions and death sentences for Harways death were overturned, but both were again convicted on retrial with Fontenot again receiving a death sentence and Ward being sentenced to life in prison. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one man in the 1984 murder of an Ada convienince store worker featured featured The Innocent Man. By, 'Deeply tainted': Oklahoma conservatives call for moratorium, abolition of the death penalty, Sheriff, jail health care provider seek public money to increase staff after two women died, AG Drummond orders independent counsel to review Glossip death penalty case, Oklahoma Attorney General requests more time in between executions. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. The conclusion of "The Innocent Man" docu-series notes that Ward's post-conviction filing has been opposed by the state, but that a judge will review the case in 2019. . The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . Ward and a co-defendant, Karl Fontenot, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of Donna Denice Haraway, a convenience store clerk in Ada, Oklahoma. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Justices should reject the states request to review the case because the evidence in this case qualifies as new evidence of actual innocence under any definition of new evidence, Fontenots lawyers argued. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Convicted murderer Tommy Ward has filed a brief in response to the Attorney General's motion to keep him locked up in prison. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. The only evidence the state used in convicting Ward was a confession that he later claimed was spun wildly from a dream he reported, and only came out after intense pressure and hours of brutal interrogation. Yale University Honors 9-Year-Old Scientist, Water Main Break In Tulsa Forces Limited Road Closure, Metro Summer Youth Camp Hopes To Prevent Violence In The Community, OKC Thunder, Big Brothers & Big Sisters Host Clinic For Kids At Park, TCSO, 'Color Free America' Hold Dialogue Between Citizens And Law Enforcement, First Responders Host Recruitment Fair In Tulsa, Doctors Warn Dangers Of Cannabis Edibles For Children. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? You can opt-out at any time. We cant do it without your support. The order is the latest in a string of decisions rebuking the convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for an infamous 1984 murder documented in two books and a recent Netflix documentary. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. The investigators seem to have taken on the role of prosecutor, judge and jury, determining that the only relevant evidence was evidence that fit their theory of the case.. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Prisoner seen in Netflixs The Innocent Man has conviction reinstated, refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, 50 cash with friend referrals at Virgin Mobile, 15% off extra plans with this Vodafone promo, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Tommy Ward andKarl Fontenot were sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Denice Haraway, despite the fact that their confessions didn't match the crime they were accused of. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. The tribulations faced by the pair are depicted in Netflix's latest true crime docu-series, "The Innocent Man," based on the John Grisham book of the same name. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Meanwhile, Fontenot, as explained in the Netflix series, had perhaps offered his testimony to the aggressive police because he both feared for his safety and wanted to escape from what was described as poverty and homelessness. featured in the book and television series, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. We promise to never spam you. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. And Mr. Fontenot has also established that evidence suppressed by the State prior to his new trial in 1988 led to a violation of his constitutional right to due process., More:Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. The Attorney Generals office claims in its filing that Fontenot and Ward attempted to minimize their involvement in Haraways death during their confessions by saying the primary aggressor was another man who was never charged with the crime. 19 talking about this. The response filed by Fontenots lawyers this week said the vast majority of evidence that the state claims was available in the 1980s was actually being suppressed by the state. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice."

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