Man convicted of killing 11-year-old is not guilty, inmate testifies
Eugene Fort, convicted in May of killing 11-year-old Marcus Potts in 1990, may get a second chance at life outside of prison.
Prison inmate Henry Newsom testified that another man told him multiple times that he was the killer. Newsom met Fort's cousin, Paul Rice, while he was serving a sentence in the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility for felony driving while intoxicated.
According to Newsom's testimony, Rice approached him on the day Fort was convicted of Potts murder. In addition to this several inmates have given sworn statements to Defense lawyer Michael Colich's investigator last summer indicating that Rice committed the crime.
Colich has petitioned the court for a new trial for Fort on the ground that several prison and jail inmates say Rice confessed to the crime. Colich also told reporters that Rice "unequivocally" admitted to committing the crime and that Fort deserves a new trial.
The prosecution seems to be in doubt over Newsom's motives for "being a snitch."
Colich however is, "deeply concerned" about the prosecution's threat of perjury charges having a "chilling effect" on Fort's right to a hearing on a new trial.
The hearing is taking place before District Court Judge Jay Quam, who will ultimately rule on the matter.