Man Convicted in Memphis Robbery Freed After 20 Years - Articles

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Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Dec 18, 2023

Artis Whitehead was released from prison last week after spending 20 years behind bars for a robbery and kidnapping on Beale Street he and the Tennessee Innocence Project say he did not commit. The Commercial Appeal reports that Whitehead's attorneys argued he should be granted a new trial, citing advances in eyewitness identification sciences, Brady violations by the Memphis Police Department and original prosecutor, and a dubious CrimeStoppers tip. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Fitzgerald granted the request for a new trial but the Shelby County District Attorney's Office says it will not re-try the case. That means Whitehead's record will show as if he was charged and had his case dropped.