Harrisburg, PA (PRWEB) May 22, 2014 -- ABC27 News in Harrisburg is airing a feature on the case of James Hugney Sr., a Harrisburg resident who has been in jail since 1979 for an arson that killed his son. His attorneys are arguing for a new trial. The first segment aired on May 21, 2014 focused on the background of the case. The second part to be aired on May 22 on Live at 5 will focus on the evidence in the case. The case is officially listed as: Commonwealth v. James Hugney, No. CP-22-MD-1296-1978, in the Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County, PA.
The news report on ABC27.com posted on May 21, 2014 gives some background on the case. On September 8, 1978, a fire occurred at house that belonged Hugney. In the fire 16 year old James Hugney Jr. was killed. In 1979 Hugney Sr. was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Hugney has maintained his innocence through out.
It has been over 35 years and 3 months since James Hugney Sr. last saw freedom. He is an aging man and his health is failing. In July, he will be 72 years old.
On January 12, 2011, James Hugney Sr. filed a petition with the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas asking for a lawyer to take another look at his case and prove his innocence. One month later, on February 11, 2011, the Honorable Scott A. Evans appointed the McShane Firm, in Harrisburg, PA to take another look at Hugney’s case. Attorney Justin McShane created a team including himself, Attorney Theodore Tanski, Attorney Katy Kennedy, and a law clerk, Richard Roberts to begin diligently trying to find any and all evidence still available. They hope that new science in the understanding of arson leads to a new trial in this case.
"There have been huge advancements in the science used in arson cases over the past thirty years. We are quietly confident that the court will consider this in and re-open his case," says Attorney McShane. "The fact that ABC News is covering this case in detail shows that there is interest in this case as people want to know how modern science will be applied to a decades old case. There has also been a buzz over social media about this."
To learn more about the Hugney Case, please visit FreeHugney.com, visit the Facebook community page at Facebook.com/FreeHugney or on Twitter at @FreeHugney
Justin McShane, The McShane Firm, LLC, http://www.themcshanefirm.com, +1 717-657-3900, [email protected]
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