Trebor5591
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David Zandstra is back in Pennesylvania and has been arraigned for the murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington in 1975. Zanstra is being held without bail. His next court date is for a preliminary hearing Oct. 11 before District Judge Walter A. Strohl. In an announcement, Zandstra's attorney raised the possibility Zandstra's confession might be a false confession.
from:
Sep. 28— "An 83-year-old retired Marple Township minister was returned to Delaware County Thursday afternoon to answer to charges in the 1975 murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington in 1975.
David Zandstra, of Marietta, Georgia, is charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first-, second- and third-degree, kidnapping and possessing an instrument of crime for Gretchen's abduction and beating death on Aug. 16, 1975."
Zandstra was charged following his confession and was taken into custody without bail in Cobb County, Georgia. He eventually waived extradition on Sept. 14.
Defense attorney Mark Much said in a statement Wednesday that his client is presumed innocent. He noted Zandstra has no prior criminal history and challenged whether his confession was truly "knowing, intelligent and voluntary."
"False confessions occur more than most people think, and result from a variety of factors, including the use of coercive and deceptive police tactics of a frail 83-year-old, among other factors," Much said. "This case will be contested and decided in our courts, not in our newspapers or press conferences. I am looking forward to challenging the commonwealth's evidence, or expose the lack thereof."
Zandstra was preliminarily arraigned via video later Thursday at the State Police Media station and remanded to the county jail in Concord without bail.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 11 before Magisterial District Judge Walter A. Strohl.
from:
Zandstra arrives in Delaware County, is arraigned and gets court date
Story by Alex Rose, Daily TimesSep. 28— "An 83-year-old retired Marple Township minister was returned to Delaware County Thursday afternoon to answer to charges in the 1975 murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington in 1975.
David Zandstra, of Marietta, Georgia, is charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first-, second- and third-degree, kidnapping and possessing an instrument of crime for Gretchen's abduction and beating death on Aug. 16, 1975."
Zandstra was charged following his confession and was taken into custody without bail in Cobb County, Georgia. He eventually waived extradition on Sept. 14.
Defense attorney Mark Much said in a statement Wednesday that his client is presumed innocent. He noted Zandstra has no prior criminal history and challenged whether his confession was truly "knowing, intelligent and voluntary."
"False confessions occur more than most people think, and result from a variety of factors, including the use of coercive and deceptive police tactics of a frail 83-year-old, among other factors," Much said. "This case will be contested and decided in our courts, not in our newspapers or press conferences. I am looking forward to challenging the commonwealth's evidence, or expose the lack thereof."
Zandstra was preliminarily arraigned via video later Thursday at the State Police Media station and remanded to the county jail in Concord without bail.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 11 before Magisterial District Judge Walter A. Strohl.
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