Doody again cleared of murder

[Flashermac]

 

 

A US federal appeals court has for the second time overturned the conviction of Thai-born Jonathan Doody for the 1991 murder of nine Buddhist worshippers in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that Mr Doody's confession, brought out over 12 hours of relentless questioning, was illegally coerced.

 

The US Supreme Court earlier had asked the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals to review its ruling and the appeals court yesterday reconfirmed its previous decisions that Mr Doody's confession was involuntary and he was deprived of the Miranda rights.

 

Miranda rights require US police officers to inform suspects about their constitutional rights before being questioned.

 

The state of Arizona will now decide whether to release Mr Doody or again appeal to the US Supreme Court to revoke the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decisions, said Mano Laohavanich, a former abbot of Wat Dhammakaya in California, where the crime happened 20 years ago, and campaigner for freedom of the now 37-year-old Mr Doody.

 

"I think the state will go for the second choice," said Mr Mano.

 

In 1991, then 17-year-old Mr Doody was sentenced to 281 years in prison after he was convicted of gunning down nine people - six monks, two helpers and a Buddhist nun - at Wat Promkunaram in west Phoenix.

 

All were shot in the head and their bodies arranged in a circle.

 

Mr Doody had moved from Nakhon Ratchasima to the United States with his mother at the age of six.

 

 

 

It was an accident.