Your honor,

I am writing to urge you to consider at least hearing more arguments in State V. Tyler Edmonds. There were several unfair mistakes during the trial and a child has lost his life because of it. Another trial would surely put to rest all of the unanswered “what if’s” this case brings about.

For starters, Tyler Edmonds’ mother should not have been taken out of the interrogation room. She had specifically asked to be present during all questioning. Whether Tyler Edmonds wanted her to stay out or not is irrelevant because he was a minor and his mother is an adult. The law enforcement officers should have told Tyler that his mother had to remain present because she asked to do so.

Kristi Leigh Fulgham, Edmonds’ sister and co-defendant, should not have been allowed into interrogation to pressure young Tyler. It was not until he spoke with her that he made his confession.

It is EXTREMELY unfair that Tyler Edmonds was not allowed an expert on false confession. This is not some witch science that is never used. More and more cases of false confessions arise every day. If the jury still believed the prosecution after a false witness expert, that is fair. It is NOT fair that one was never allowed for the jury to hear.

For the judge to allow Dr. Haynes statement about “two fingers” on the trigger into evidence is ridiculous. Dr. Haynes was not talking about trigger angles as the prosecution suggests. It is obvious that he meant that he felt that two people held their fingers on the trigger to shoot the gun. While no weapon was ever found and no gun residue test was taken, this is a completely ridiculous notion.

The statement of a police witness who could corroborate Edmonds’ recantation was not allowed into the trial.

The defense was prohibited from explaining to the jury the situations surrounding Kristi and Joey Fulghams’s relationship, the fact that he had a life insurance policy that would not have effected Tyler Edmonds, and the fact that Kristi Fulgham was asking other people for guns to kill her husband.

While the jury was informed that Tyler Edmonds could not receive the death penalty they were not allowed to hear the fact that he would receive a life sentence. During sentencing, one jury member wept uncontrollably.

Lastly, the trial judge in this case should have kept the case of Tyler Edmonds in youth court. Tyler Edmonds to this day has no discipline record and has an amazing academic record. He was a young child who, even if you believe guilty, received an extremely unfair trial. I understand that you have already upheld his conviction, but seeing as two judges dissented I am urging you to at least hear more arguments in this case. At age 21, small Tyler Edmonds will most likely be sent to Parchman where he will spend the rest of his life. Please find it within yourself to take one more look at this case.

With respect,
Andrea White
Summit, AR