In a thinly-veiled threat, Avalon writes, “Should Defendant be awarded a trial de novo as a result of this litigation, the undersigned does not have the authority to rule out the possibility that the State may attempt to seek the ultimate penalty again…”
“I’m in a dogfight again.” – Leo Schofield
Leo Schofield’s case has now become a war of attrition. One party desperately seeking justice, while the other attempts to drown new evidence in procedure, bureaucracy, and just a touch of malice.
Leo, now 51, has been in prison longer than he has been a free man. He has lived the majority of his life behind bars, haunted by a conviction that has defined his existence. A conviction that prevents him from living a normal life with his wife Crissie, whom he met through his assistance in a prison program that teaches inmates life skills, and his daughter, Ashley Nicole.
Imagine, if you can, that you have been locked in prison for almost 30 years for a crime you didn’t commit: the murder of a loved one. Their memory stained by loss and twisted by injustice. How would you respond?
“Part of me wants to be angry, and yet I pray that God gives them wisdom, something, anything…” – Leo Schofield
Leo has been granted an evidentiary hearing, in which Judge J. Kevin Abdoney will examine the new evidence to determine whether a retrial is warranted. A pre-trial status conference has been scheduled for March 15, 2017, in which the court will likely set a date for the evidentiary hearing.
