US supreme court reinstates murder conviction in case of Etan Patz
Summary
The US Supreme Court has reinstated the murder conviction of Pedro Hernandez in the case of Etan Patz, a boy who disappeared in New York City in 1979. Hernandez was originally convicted in 2017, but his conviction was overturned by a lower appeals court before the Supreme Court reversed that decision.Key Facts
- Etan Patz disappeared at age six in 1979 while walking to a school bus stop in Manhattan.
- Pedro Hernandez worked at a nearby convenience store and was identified as a suspect in 2012.
- Hernandez confessed to kidnapping and murdering Patz and was convicted in 2017, receiving a sentence of 25 years to life.
- The conviction was overturned by the US Court of Appeals because of a judge's explanation to the jury about Hernandez’s confessions.
- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to reinstate Hernandez’s conviction, stating the appeals court overstepped its authority.
- Hernandez’s lawyers argued their client’s confession was false and that he has mental illness.
- Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg supports the Supreme Court’s decision and the pursuit of justice for Etan Patz and his family.
- Hernandez’s first trial in 2015 ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury.
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