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50-year-old murder case, Tommy Zeigler, new DNA evidence
The defense attorney for Tommy Zeigler, who's been on death row for nearly 50 years, says new DNA evidence proves his client's innocence. Zeigler, 80, was convicted of murdering four people—his wife, his in-laws and another man—at his family’s furniture store in Winter Garden on Christmas Eve in 1975, 50 years ago.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida man who has been on death row for nearly 50 years returns to court Monday for an evidentiary hearing.
Tommy Zeigler’s lawyers say new DNA evidence proves his innocence.
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The backstory:
Zeigler, 80, was convicted of murdering four people—his wife, his in-laws and another man—at his family’s furniture store in Winter Garden on Christmas Eve in 1975, 50 years ago.
The defense in this case says new DNA evidence conclusively proves that Tommy Zeigler is innocent and exposes the prosecution's case from a half century ago.
Zeigler has maintained he was a victim and did not commit the crime. He said he walked in on a robbery that day and was shot while fighting off the real killer.
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What we know:
At Zeigler's Evidentiary Hearing on Dec. 1, prosecutors said it's an "ironclad case" that holds true today.
However, according to Zeigler’s lawyers, new DNA results could prove that Zeigler struggled with Charlie Mays, a customer who was also killed at the store that night. Zeigler's attorney claims an analysis shows no significant blood was found on Zeigler's clothes and no gunshot residue was found on him either.
The defense in this case says new DNA evidence conclusively proves that Tommy Zeigler is innocent and exposes the prosecution's case from a half century ago.
DNA evidence also points to another person at the crime scene – the fourth victim, Charlie Mays, the defense said. They claimed Mays manipulated the victim's clothes after killing.
Zeigler's defense said the original verdict should be set aside, but prosecutors disagree – claiming that none of this changes the original facts of this case.
What's next:
Zeigler's hearing is expected to continue for a week.
The Source: This article was written using information sourced from court documents and FOX 35 reporting.