© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News
To contact us with news tips, story ideas or other related information, e-mail newsstaff@ideastream.org.

The Sam Sheppard Trial 2000: The Sheppard Pretrial Part 1

The hearing was an hour late getting started. But it wasn't without fanfare as Sam Reese Sheppard entered the courtroom accompanied by three of his cousins, an aunt, and attorney Terry Gilbert. In the first pretrial motion, Gilbert wanted Judge Ronald Suster to omit testimony from the 1954 trial. Because Gilbert said it was unfair.

Terry Gilbert- The trial was, probably was, in the history of American justice, probably the most shameful trial in American history. And that is well documented in the case of Sheppard versus Maxwell.

YP- But assistant Cuyahoga county prosecutor Steven Dever says it's important to hear the complete story of what happened 45 years ago.

Steven Dever- We can have all of these experts who can come in here and comment about what the evidence is and give opinions about the guilt or innocence of Dr. Sam Sheppard. But it's the function of the jury to decide the facts. We deprive the jury of essential facts by not allowing that testimony read into the record.

YP- Pretrial motions are expected to continue through Friday. Jury selection could begin sometime next week. The case is expected to take anywhere from three weeks to three months to complete.

For INFOHIO, I'm Yolanda Perdomo in Cleveland.