In 1944, George Stinney Jr. became the youngest person executed in the U.S. in the 20th century. Stinney was just 14 years old when he was found guilty of murder in South Carolina.
Although at the time Stinney was old enough to be held responsible for a crime in the state of South Carolina, he was so small of stature, weighing only 95 pounds, that he had to sit on a phone book in order to fit in the electric chair.
Stinney was convicted of killing two white girls, ages 11 and 8, in the town of Alcolu. Although officials contended that Stinney admitted to committing the crime, a 2009 affidavit from Stinney's sister argued that she had been with her brother on the day of the murder and thus he could not have committed the crime. Furthermore, no documentation of Stinney's confession exists.
The Controversy Continues Today
However, on the morning of December 17th Judge Carmen Mullins vacated the decision against Stinney, an action which civil rights advocates have spent considerable time trying to accomplish. Stinney's 1944 trial took place just three months after the deaths of the two girls and lasted three hours. The 12 white jurors needed only 10 minutes to reach a guilty verdict. Now, this new motion for a new trial will hopefully clear up the likely injustice that took place so many decades ago.
If you have been arrested for a crime, you need a stout defense to ensure your rights are protected. Let a St. Augustine criminal defense lawyer from our firm put our more than 40 years of collective experience to challenge your case. Call today and set up your complimentary consultation to discuss the details of your case with us!