The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial for Pedro Hernandez, who was found guilty in 2017 of killing Etan Patz, the young boy who vanished while on his way to a school bus stop in Manhattan. Hernandez's conviction followed a 2015 trial that ended without a verdict due to a hung jury. The court highlighted significant errors in jury instructions regarding Hernandez’s confessions, which were central to the prosecution's case. The case remains one of the most notorious missing children's incidents in U.S. history.
US Appeals Court Grants New Trial for Etan Patz Murder Convict
US Appeals Court Grants New Trial for Etan Patz Murder Convict
A man convicted of murdering six-year-old Etan Patz in 1979 is granted a new trial by an appeals court, raising new questions about the case.
The appeals court pointed out that the state trial court's instructions to the jury did not align with federal law and affected Hernandez's right to a fair trial. Hernandez had confessed to the crime following lengthy police interrogation, which raised concerns given his documented mental health issues. Legal representatives for Hernandez are optimistic about the ruling and urge the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to reassess the charges as they continue their investigation into Patz's long-unsolved case.
In the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz, extensive public appeals, including his image on milk cartons, have marked the tragedy. Despite years of investigation, the boy’s body has never been uncovered, and the case has left a lasting impact on both the city and the nation.
In the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz, extensive public appeals, including his image on milk cartons, have marked the tragedy. Despite years of investigation, the boy’s body has never been uncovered, and the case has left a lasting impact on both the city and the nation.
