The US supreme court has reinstated a murder conviction in the long-running case of Etan Patz, whose 1979 disappearance at age six from New York City garnered national headlines. In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the court agreed with New York prosecutors in their request to reverse a lower court ruling that had thrown out the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, 64.
Background of the case
Hernandez was convicted in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Patz in New York state court, receiving a prison sentence of 25 years to life. Patz disappeared on 25 May 1979 while walking to a school bus stop in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. Although his body was never found, investigators identified Hernandez as a suspect in 2012. At the time of the child's disappearance, Hernandez worked at a convenience store near the boy's bus stop.
Lower court ruling overturned
The second circuit US court of appeals had overturned Hernandez's conviction in July, finding that the trial judge gave a "clearly wrong" and "manifestly prejudicial" response to a key jury question. Jurors asked whether they must disregard Hernandez's later confessions if they found that an earlier one, made before he was advised of his rights, was involuntary. The judge replied that "the answer is no." The appeals court said jurors should have received a fuller explanation.
However, the supreme court disagreed, ruling that "the second circuit exceeded its authority in holding that Hernandez is entitled to relief." The ruling added: "The panel's opinion appears to reflect serious doubt about the reliability of Hernandez's confessions, but [federal law] does not allow a federal habeas court to disturb a state-court conviction based on such an evaluation of the evidence."
Reactions and arguments
In response, Hernandez's lawyers said they were "terribly disappointed," according to the Associated Press. "We firmly believe that an innocent man is in jail for a crime that he did not commit," they told the outlet. They argued that their client's confession was false, citing his mental illness and a seven-hour police interrogation before being read his Miranda rights. In his confession, Hernandez said he lured Patz into the basement of the convenience store, strangled him, and discarded his body in an alley.
Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg praised the decision, stating, "This office has remained steadfast in its pursuit of justice for Etan and the Patz family and will continue to stand by this important conviction." Hernandez was first tried in 2015, but the case ended in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
