Wrongful conviction case judge: Was there ‘rush’ to convict?

By JIM SALTER
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The judge presiding over a hearing to determine if a Missouri man’s murder conviction should be overturned questioned if police and prosecutors “were in a little bit of a rush” to convict Lamar Johnson. At issue is St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s effort to vacate Johnson’s murder conviction in the 1994 killing of Marcus Boyd. On Friday, after former Detective Joseph Nickerson recounted Johnson’s violent history, Judge David Mason asked: “You sure this isn’t a situation where you guys were in a little bit of a rush to make a conviction?” Nickerson denied it. Testimony concluded Friday afternoon, with Mason giving the sides 10 days to file briefs — meaning no decision will be announced until after Christmas.