OH - Dr. Margo Prade, 41, shot to death, Akron, 26 Nov 1997

[Reader]

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?id=19286001&ps=1011&cat=&cps=0&lang=en

CINCINNATI (AP) — A former Ohio police captain who has spent nearly 15 years in prison in his ex-wife's killing was exonerated Tuesday by a judge who said that new DNA tests proved his innocence and that no reasonable jury that saw the test results would have convicted him.

Doug Prade should be set free because the new DNA results are "clear and convincing," said Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Judy Hunter in Akron.

Hunter could have ordered a new trial for the 66-year-old Prade, or found that the DNA results weren't strong enough and allowed his conviction and sentence of life in prison to stand.

Prade's attorney, Carrie Wood, said when she called Prade to give him the news, he broke down in tears and couldn't speak for a while..............

Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Sherri Bevan Walsh vowed to appeal, saying in a statement that Hunter's findings were "a gross misapplication of the law."

"We have not seen any credible evidence that suggests innocence, and we are taking all available actions to keep a dangerous killer off the streets," she said.

If a higher court agreed with prosecutors and overturned Hunter's ruling, Prade would get a new trial.

Margo Prade, a 41-year-old prominent Akron doctor, was found slumped in her minivan outside her office on Nov. 26, 1997. She had been shot six times, but there were no eyewitnesses and no fingerprints, and no gun ever was found.

The only piece of concrete evidence was a bite mark on her arm; the killer bit her so hard that it left an impression through her lab coat and blouse.........

More at link.....

 

[txsvicki]

Wow. Margo's murder was featured on a crime show, and I doubted his guilt. The thing about his dentures being loose and making the indentation didn't seem right. That, and the video of the killer looked nothing like him.

 

[Moxie Vi]

Wow. Margo's murder was featured on a crime show, and I doubted his guilt. The thing about his dentures being loose and making the indentation didn't seem right. That, and the video of the killer looked nothing like him.

ITA. I remember watching that show and feeling like the justice system failed both him and Margo. IIRC he also had an alibi that he was working out at a gym when the murder was commited, eye witnesses and all. If there has ever been reasonable doubt it is in this case! I am happy he was exonerated.I hope they pursue the real killer now.

 

[ohiogirl]

jmo, I still think he did it. It will be interesting to see what happens from here.

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/exonerating-prade-1.369265

 

[w1df10wr]

"A state appeals court has reversed a judge's decision that allowed convicted killer Douglas Prade to be released from prison.

Prade, a former Akron police captain, was released in January 2013 from the Madison Correctional Institution, where he was serving a life sentence for the 1997 slaying of his former wife, Margo, outside of her medical practice. A Summit County jury convicted him in 1998 of aggravated murder and other charges."

More at http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/03/appeals_court_reverses_judges.html

"More than a year after he was declared not guilty of his wife’s murder, a former Akron police captain was taken into protective custody Thursday following a hearing." More at http://fox8.com/2014/03/20/warrant-to-be-issued-if-prade-skips-court/

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It will be interesting to see the court's final decision on this case.

 

[ohiogirl]

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news...rders-summit-county-to-release-prade-1.474772

Oops, he's out again.

The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered the release of Douglas Prade just hours after he was placed back into custody by Summit County.

Here is the court’s order: “This cause is pending before the court as a jurisdictional appeal. On March 19, 2014,

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news...siders-defense-request-for-new-trial-1.546966

Former Akron Police Capt. Douglas Prade is in a state penitentiary while the Ohio Supreme Court considers a defense request for a new trial in the 1997 slaying of his ex-wife.

Prade, now 68, is under protective custody at Allen Correctional Institution in Lima, according to state prison records...

Judge Christine Croce, Hunter’s successor, called the case a virtual pingpong game when she acted on the appellate ruling and ordered Prade back to prison Oct. 9.

 

[rosie_lee]

http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2015/04/ohio_supreme_court_rejects_akr.html

AKRON, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the latest appeal for former Akron Police Capt. Douglas Prade in his 1998 murder case.

The court typically does not issue opinions on the cases they reject. Justices William M. O'Neill and Paul Pfeifer wanted to hear the case. Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor recused herself because she was the Summit County Prosecutor at the time of the original trial.

Prade's case will now be returned to Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce. She said in October that if the state's top court rejected Prade's appeal, that she will issue an order either granting or denying Prade a new trial.

 

[wendybtn]

I always thought the "f" in justice stood for finality. It has changed in the last 20 years in many ways, I see!

 

[rosie_lee]

Check out Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylor19): https://twitter.com/ScottTaylor19?s=09

Former Akron Police Captain Douglas Prade back in court asking for a new trial. Convicted of killing wife in 1997. http://t.co/rzhlV5K7k9

Judge says she will take Douglas Prade's request under advisement & will issue an opinion in more than a week. http://t.co/Ui5qwInixm

Douglas Prade's Family tells me they are just praying for a better outcome in Court this time for Douglas. http://t.co/Hq5Mw1d0pI

 

[rosie_lee]

http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2015/11/former_akron_police_capt_dougl.html

AKRON, Ohio — A Summit County judge will hear more arguments Wednesday on whether or not to order a new trial for former Akron Police Capt. Douglas Prade, who is serving a life sentence for killing his ex-wife in 1997.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce asked attorneys for more arguments before she makes a final decision to affirm Prade's conviction or order a new trial.

She listened to an hour-and-a-half worth of arguments on the subject during a June hearing.

Croce, however, spoke with the attorneys in a conference call in August and asked for more arguments regarding DNA found on Margot Prade's lab coat.

More at link ...