Man Convicted of Murder in 2007 gets New Trial

In 2006 Adam Braseel was 21 years old and living in the Grundy County town of Pelham. 22 months later he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. His family has been fighting for his conviction to be overturned or at least a new trial. On Christmas Day Braseel’s family got some good news they had been waiting almost 8 years for, a new trial. Circuit Judge Justin Angel also told the family that there would be a bond hearing on Friday Jan. 8, 2016. Bond was granted and Braseel was released.
The crime, which occurred on Jan. 7, 2006 resulted in the killing of Malcolm Burrows and the assault Rebecca Hill. Hill died in the years since the conviction.
In his Dec. 25, 2015, ruling, Angel granted relief from conviction or sentence, voiding Braseel’s convictions and ordering a new trial.
Angel concluded that Braseel’s “allegation that he did not receive effective assistance of counsel at the jury trial was supported by clear and convincing evidence at the post-conviction hearing” held in November.
Angel states he “placed emphasis on the credibility and sufficiency of the identifications testified to at trial. Again, no other evidence, DNA or other, that link Braseel to the crimes. The jury clearly relied on the identification of Braseel by Rebecca Hill and a man by the name of Kirk Braden.”
During the trial, Hill actually identified another person from a lineup, and Braden identified Braseel from a single-photo lineup, according to Angel. A single-photo lineup has been ruled unconstitutional in other cases and Braseel’s trial lawyers failed in 2007 to move to suppress either lineup, Angel noted.
Twelfth Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Steve Strain was the prosecutor in the 2007 trial. He says, “We disagree with the court’s ruling and we have filed a notice of appeal.”
Braseel’s lawyer, Knoxville-based Doug Trant, said the state’s appeal was expected.
A new trial date will be announced.