Murder Witness Claims Intimidation

This Source Verification Page documents an Associated Press article published through StarNews Online concerning allegations made by witness Lynette Smith during proceedings related to the murder of Mary Elizabeth Judd in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The article discusses claims of witness intimidation, challenges to investigative practices, and concerns regarding the reliability of testimony used in a major criminal prosecution. Statement of Facts D relies upon this reporting as independent documentation of allegations involving former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and questions surrounding the methods used to obtain witness statements during criminal investigations.

Related SMAR Citation

“[Asheville Citizen Times, Nov. 9, 2003]”
“[Asheville Citizen Times]”

Source Name

Murder Witness Claims Intimidation

Author(s)

Associated Press

Publication

StarNews Online

Publication Date

November 9, 2003

Verification Source

Murder Witness Claims Intimidation

Source Location

Associated Press article referencing court documents obtained by StarNews Online

Highlighted Pages

1 - 2

Referenced in the Supplemental Motion

Page 28, Paragraph 49

Source Status

✔ Article obtained and reviewed.

✔ This article independently supports both Asheville Citizen-Times citations referenced in Paragraph 49 of the Supplemental Motion.

✔ Relevant passages highlighted.

✔ Publicly available source.

✔ Included within the Source Verification Archive.

Cited to Support

Lyle C. May alleges that John Collins and David Hammack were jailed in connection with the rape and murder of Mary Elizabeth Judd based largely upon statements attributed to a single eyewitness, Lynette Smith. The article is cited to document Smith's later claim that Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford threatened or intimidated her into making statements implicating Collins and Hammack, as well as reporting that defense attorneys challenged the reliability of the investigation and the prosecution's reliance upon her account. May relies upon this source to support his allegation that coercive investigative practices, witness intimidation, and questionable witness testimony were not isolated incidents within Buncombe County criminal investigations. He further cites this reporting to demonstrate that concerns regarding the conduct of law enforcement officials and prosecutors arose in multiple serious felony cases originating in Asheville and Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Supporting Documents

Original Article

Link to the original article.

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Highlighted Research Copy

Working research copy containing the highlighted passages cited in the Supplemental Motion.

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