The Innocent Man, released by Netflix in 2018, looked at two murder cases having taken place in Ada in the 1980s, including the one which resulted in Wards conviction. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. Karl Fontenot was 20 years old in 1984, when he was arrested for the rape and murder of Donna Denice Haraway along with Tommy Ward. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. Fontenots attorneys have argued that many of the inaccurate details of his confession were supplied by detectives from the Ada Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. She was 24. The six-part docuseries series, based on John Grishams 2006 best-selling non-fiction book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town, tells the story of Ronald Keith Williamson, a man wrongfully convicted of rape and murder who spent 11 years on death row before he was exonerated. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. 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. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. Share. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. His previous EPs "Forget Me Not" and "Merry Christmas" both reached the Top 10 on iTunes jazz charts on the first day of their release. By: Dana Hertneky. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. 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. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release." 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Tommy Ward to be set free . Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. The case was the subject of the book, The Dreams of Ada, by Robert Mayer, and was also described in John Grishams The Innocent Man, which became a Netflix documentary series. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, A judge reversed the conviction of Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, in 2020, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Tommy Ward in the 2018 Netflix docuseries The Innocent Man'. The ruling came down Friday from District Judge Paula Inge in Pontotoc County, who concluded in post-conviction finding that the case rested on circumstantial evidence in the form of conflicted witness statements and Wards inculpatory statements he gave to police. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. However, she would never be seen alive again. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. Tommy Ward one of the subjects of Netflix's true-crime docuseries "The Innocent Man," who was convicted of abduction, rape and the murder of an Oklahoma woman is to be released from . 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. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. Ward was featured in the Netflix. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ward's case, and others, have been the. We cant do it without your support. A prisoner featured in the Netflix documentary series The Innocent Man has had his murder conviction and life sentence reinstated after previously being granted relief. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . After Haraways remains were found in 1986 in rural Hughes County, forensic analysis showed that many of the details in Fontenots and Wards confessions were wrong. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Fontenot, now 57,was tried twice and given the death penalty both times, though a retrial error led to a new sentence of life without parole. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! News 9 Team Holds Severe Weather Expo At Penn Square Mall, Sauced On The Paseo Re-Opens 2 Years After Fire, Read Across America Celebration Held At Belle Isle Library, 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. More to come. At only 25 years old, he has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. have asked the court of appeals . Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. More to come. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A man who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man must remain incarcerated even after a judge ordered his release, an appeals court ruled Thursday. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenot's alibi and other suspects in the murder provided "solid proof" of his probable innocence. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Attorneys for a man convicted for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of an Ada woman say they plan to file a federal case to try and overturn his conviction after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a lower court's order that would have made him a free man. The appeals court did task the district court with handling a remaining claim from Wards team, according to which newly discovered evidence requires his conviction to be vacated. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . mail Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, They cant. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. FILE - This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Tommy Ward, who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series 'The Innocent. 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. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . Lawyers for a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned after he served more than three decades in prison urged the U.S. Supreme Court this week not to grant the states request to review the case.

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