*Edwards issued a confusing confession that has since been recanted.
*Orthell Wilson was offered a plea agreement to implicate Edwards in the death of Cantrell. Wilson was required by prosecutors to plead guilty to 1stDegree Murder and testify into evidence that Edwards solicited a murder for hire plot. In exchange for his testimony; Wilson evaded the death penalty and received a life sentence without parole.
*Edwards was tried for murder. None of the actual physical evidence linked Edwards to the murder. During the course of police interrogations; Edwards gave a confession. None of the interrogation sessions were recorded, some which allegedly lasted nine hours without a break. Defense attorneys have claimed that Edwards was coerced into a manufactured confession after police threatened to apprehend and interrogate his present wife and children.
From the US District Court transcript:
""The University City police told petitioner that Orthel Wilson was in custody and showed him the murder weapon. Petitioner continued to deny any involvement in Ms. Cantrell's murder. However, when officers stated that they were going to reinterview his wife and children, petitioner agreed to make a statement, as long as his family was *55 left alone."
-- After signing a waiver of his Miranda rights,--
(Source : https://casetext.com/case/edwards-v-roper-4)
*As a result of Edwards' confession and the coerced testimony of Wilson; Edwards received the death penalty. The all white jury declared Edwards guilty and voted for the death penalty --after a sentencing hearing that lasted less than a day." (Source: http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/
The autism diagnosis, police/prosecutorial misconduct"
The case was tried in 2002. Post-conviction, Kimber Edwards was given multiple psychiatric evaluations and diagnosed with a unique form of Autism, named Aspergers Syndrome. Dr. William S. Logan, MD claimed that evidence of autism spectrum disorder/Aspergers, most likely surfaced early in Kimber Edward's childhood. Dr. Logan characterized Kimber Edwards as being --lost in his own world." (Source: http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/oped/autism-undermines-scheduled-execution/article_15bfb178-b10b-5206-aef6-7f7bfba947c3.html)
In all fairness, the police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judge and jury had no official knowledge of his condition, though his odd behaviors should have provoked a competency evaluation during the trial phase. (Source : http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/oped/autism-undermines-scheduled-execution/article_15bfb178-b10b-5206-aef6-7f7bfba947c3.html)
Actual court transcripts reveal evidence of autism spectrum disorder since infancy according to anecdotal behavioral testimony from relatives.
""When petitioner was an infant he did not cry or respond to external stimulation; as he grew older, he did not crawl or play with toys.5He did not show interest in or affection for other family *77 members."(Source : https://casetext.com/case/edwards-v-roper-4)
Defense teams had multiple experts testify to Edwards' significant intellectual and psychological deficiencies. The transcript from the US District Court disclosed the following :
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
