Page 2 - Jims Case News Today

Convinced the ex-cop is innocent. >> there was really no hard evidence. >> we have an innocent guy here. this is crazy. >> and the case takes an unexpected turn. >> you never say it cant be. because often it is. >> theres a body in the water. >> he was butchered and murdered. >> many people proclaim their innocence. >> in this case there are a number of things that stink. >> this man is remorseless. >> he needs to pay for it with his life. >> the electric chair flashed in front of my eyes. >> ge...

>> police never charge duckett with the weldon murder, but they have said theyll pursue duckett for the crime if he is ever let off death row for the mcabee murder, a possibility beth wells is counting on. >> theyre presently reviewing jims case, and im 100% confident that when they evaluate this evidence, theyll say, you know what? we got it wrong. we have to give this guy a new trial. >> the hard evidence was tire tracks which cant be identified to his car. a pubic hair, nothing that he can ev...

At that time he had been on death row about 16 years. thats a long time to be cooped up in a walk-in closet. when i walked into the room it was almost like seeing some old friend. he was so happy to see me. >> i believe it was on fathers day he showed up here. and i thought we had a good conversation. ate a hamburger, had a soda. we talked about the case and this and that. >> i asked him about the three girls and he said that never happened. it was all a lie. well, i dont know those girls but i ...

>> despite the community uproar, police chief mike brady who had hired and mentored duckett held fast in his belief that investigators were focusing on the wrong man. >> my confidence in him hadnt been shaken. i was of the opinion that the truth is going to come out. he is going to be exonerated as a suspect. were going on get to business and find out who murdered this child. >> last time i seen her she turned the corner and was headed home. >> do you want to know something? >> yes, sir. >> your...

Eyewitness than jurors had been led to believe. >> i wanted to know how that came about that she would testify against duckett. >> gwen gurley was always getting involved in thefts and involved in disturbances and all of a sudden she becomes a star witness the worst credibility you could ever have. >> in 87, i was 16, i was a typical teenager, i would say. except i was getting in a little trouble. >> when gurley was in the leesburg city jail -- >> three counts of grand theft. >> the news report ...

The tire tracks. and we might never have focused in on him as a suspect. >> after beth wells finished making her case for a new trial, judge lockett denied the appeal. in 2003 marshall frank was ready to go to bat for james duck set -- duckett and called beth wells to offer his help. >> beth was a little dubious about me. she was dubious about anybody who would be on the law enforcement side. didnt know for sure that i was really sincere in my probe. >> marshall frank contacts jim and im initial...

Idea. >> he said ive got a friend that used to work for the "miami herald." and i had read adam buchanans stories before over the years. and so i knew who the name was. and so i felt excited. >> edna buchanan was a pulitzer prize winning crime reporter for the "miami herald." >> an outstanding reporter, one of the best ive ever known. i wanted to tell her what the story was. >> marshall frank kept calling me. i had noun him. he had been a source of mine over the years and he said he found this c...

Convinced the ex-cop is innocent. >> there was really no hard evidence. >> we have an innocent guy here. this is crazy. >> and the case takes an unexpected turn. >> you never say it cant be. because often it is. >> theres a body in the water. >> he was butchered and murdered. >> many people proclaim their innocence. >> in this case there are a number of things that stink. >> this man is remorseless. >> he needs to pay for it with his life. >> the electric chair flashed in front of my eyes. >> ge...

Was almost like seeing some old friend. he was so happy to see me. >> i believe it was on fathers day he showed up here. and i thought we had a good conversation. ate a hamburger, had a soda. we talked about the case and this and that. >> i asked him about the three girls and he said that never happened. it was all a lie. well, i dont know those girls but i didnt believe him when he said that. because if one said it, maybe its a lie. but all three, independently of each other its not likely they...

Railroaded. >> watch out you dont trip. have a seat right here. dont stand up until -- >> yeah, yeah, i got you. >> im james aren duckett and we are currently at florida state prison at stark. i am sentenced to death so i am currently on death row. ive been here since june 30th, 1988. >> i wrote duckett a letter. tell me more about this situation. well, i got a big letter back. >> he reached out to me. he said im a retired detective from the miami police department. he said i want to help you ou...