Boulder Judge Vacates Murder Conviction, Unraveling a 30-Year Case
Boulder District Judge Nancy Salomone has vacated the first-degree murder conviction of Michael Clark, 49, stemming from the 1994 shooting of Marty Grisham. This decision, made on Friday, marks a significant milestone as it’s the first such reversal linked to the ongoing scandal involving the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) forensic lab.
Clark, who has maintained his innocence for over three decades, was convicted in 2012 largely based on testimony from former CBI forensic expert Yvonne Woods, whose work has since been discredited. An independent lab’s recent DNA re-analysis indicated that Clark was excluded as a suspect, prompting the Boulder County District Attorney’s office to withdraw its objection to vacating the conviction.
Despite still believing the evidence against Clark to be substantial, the district attorney stated that “the interest of justice” warranted a new trial. In the coming months, the office plans to re-evaluate evidence and determine if a second trial can be supported beyond a reasonable doubt.
Clark’s defense attorney, Adam Frank, expressed optimism but emphasized that the fight isn’t over yet. Following his release from Fremont Correctional Facility under a $100,000 bond, Clark is expected to be held at the Boulder County jail.
The scandal surrounding Woods has raised questions about the integrity of DNA analysis in multiple cases, with over 1,000 irregularities linked to her work acknowledged by CBI. This has spurred a reevaluation of past convictions and reignited discussions about the reliability of forensic evidence.
Woods faces serious charges including perjury and forgery, reflecting broader concerns about forensic science’s role in the judicial system. This case underscores the complex intersection of technology, justice, and systemic failures in crime investigations.
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