After weeks of stories and protests questioning the prosecution and subsequent conviction of Myon Burrell, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar sent a letter Thursday to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman requesting an independent investigation of the case.
Burrell was convicted in the killing of Tyesha Edwards, an 11-year-old girl struck in the heart by a stray bullet in 2002. The tragic case received renewed interest after a year-long investigative AP story by Robin McDowell pointed to flaws in the prosecution, including the use of circumstantial evidence and information obtained from jailhouse informants.
Early in Klobuchar’s presidential bid, during a debate, she pointed to Burrell’s conviction in the shooting death of Edwards to defend her record on racial justice. Burrell, now 33, was 16 at the time of the shooting. He has maintained his innocence throughout.
Klobuchar’s presidential campaign came to an abrupt end on Monday, the day after protesters demanding justice for Burrell effectively shut down her campaign rally in St. Louis Park.
In the letter, Klobuchar noted that she met with the Burrell family on Tuesday and relayed to them that any injustice done to Burrell in pursuit of justice for Edwards must be addressed. Citing “significant concerns” about the police investigation by the media, Burrell’s family, and members of the Hennepin County community, Klobuchar wrote that “an independent review of the case and the evidence” is warranted.
In response to Klobuchar’s letter, Hennepin County Attorney Freeman stated that his office is committed to “reviewing the case file and the new information” that Burrell’s attorney has provided. “That review is on-going,” he noted in a press release.
The MSR will continue to follow the developments in this story.
Find more info about the Myon Burrell case below:
MSR Town Hall addresses tough-on-crime fallout
Minnesota man seeks to toss his murder conviction Sen. Amy Klobuchar stood behind for 17 years
Teen’s life sentence now questioned
Activists call for the release of Myon Burrell
Klobuchar campaign can’t shake blowback from Myon Burrell conviction
Did Amy Klobuchar Send an Innocent Teenager to Life in Prison?
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