James Hugney Sr. New developments in arson science that have led to challenges to numerous arson and murder convictions across the USA free James Hugney Sr. after spending 37 years behind bars. (This is the case taken on by defence lawyer Justin McShane, author of the phenomenal Blog “The Truth About Forensic Science,” which I have often referred to on this site.)
STORY: “Deal frees East Shore man from life prison sentence for fatal 1978 fire,” by reporter Matt Miller, published by Penn Live, on January 23, 2015.
GIST: “An East Shore man who served 37 years behind bars for a fatal 1978 fire in Susquehanna Township was freed from state prison Friday after striking a plea deal with Dauphin County prosecutors.
James Hugney Sr., now 72, was convicted of second-degree murder and arson and sentenced to life in prison for the fire death of his 16-year-old son. Hugney’s release resulted from his latest appeal, which cited new developments in fire investigation science that have led to challenges to numerous arson and murder convictions across the country. The deal that freed Hugney, negotiated by First Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo and defense attorney Justin McShane, involved several steps………Although he entered his new guilty pleas willingly, Hugney did not admit to committing any crime, Lewis noted in his order on the case.
Chardo said his office still could have prosecuted Hugney on some evidence from the fatal 1978 fire, but the investigation of the cause of the fire would have been called into question by the advancements in fire science. So, he said, reaching the plea deal with Hugney seemed to be the “right thing” to resolve the case. Hugney’s is not the only midstate murder case affected by advancements in fire science. A Cumberland County judge also is weighing a plea to overturn the conviction and life prison sentence ofLetitia Smallwood for a fatal 1972 blaze in Carlisle.”
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