TheCars1986
06-08-2016, 08:08 PM
http://192.155.252.85/decision/1984572129IllApp3d443_1511/PEOPLE%20v.%20SHORE
Just found this link which goes into great detail about the Steve Shores case. UM actually did a good job presenting the case in their segment (and IMO, this is one of the few cases where UM did a decent job of presenting a majority of the facts within a restricted time frame), but there is still some interesting information in here. While I was reading it, I started to become convinced that Shores was guilty. But then I read the dissenting judge's opinion, and realized that Shores was completely innocent. The UM segment makes it seem like there were only 2 El Rukn gang members present, but there were actually 3. The 3 of them had ample time to get together to concoct a story to frame Shores. The most interesting part to me was that after the gang members claim to have seen Shores (who they claim was with them the entire time prior to Garrison Hester's murder) murder Hester, he ran away and fled the area. Later that night, the 3 members went to a nearby bar and claim to have seen Shores ride by them on a bike. This is extremely important detail, and had Shores been forthright with his attorney, this would have caused the defense to impeach their testimony at the trial...because Shores claimed he was riding bikes around the neighborhood with a friend that night. Not once during the El Rukn's stories do they mention Shores being on a bike, but then one miraculously materializes minutes after Shores murders Hester? It's obvious, IMO, that Shores witnessed the murder, the killer saw Shores on his bike, and then saw him again later that night, and they conspired and molded their stories to frame Steve Shores.
What's remarkable to me is how much weight the State put in the testimony of 2 former gang members (and 1 female friend of theirs), while completely ignoring Shores's sister's testimony. But then again, Shores did not do himself any favors, because he never told his attorney any of this.
What's sad is that Shores took the Alford Plea, which means he's still the convicted murderer of Garrison Hester.
Just found this link which goes into great detail about the Steve Shores case. UM actually did a good job presenting the case in their segment (and IMO, this is one of the few cases where UM did a decent job of presenting a majority of the facts within a restricted time frame), but there is still some interesting information in here. While I was reading it, I started to become convinced that Shores was guilty. But then I read the dissenting judge's opinion, and realized that Shores was completely innocent. The UM segment makes it seem like there were only 2 El Rukn gang members present, but there were actually 3. The 3 of them had ample time to get together to concoct a story to frame Shores. The most interesting part to me was that after the gang members claim to have seen Shores (who they claim was with them the entire time prior to Garrison Hester's murder) murder Hester, he ran away and fled the area. Later that night, the 3 members went to a nearby bar and claim to have seen Shores ride by them on a bike. This is extremely important detail, and had Shores been forthright with his attorney, this would have caused the defense to impeach their testimony at the trial...because Shores claimed he was riding bikes around the neighborhood with a friend that night. Not once during the El Rukn's stories do they mention Shores being on a bike, but then one miraculously materializes minutes after Shores murders Hester? It's obvious, IMO, that Shores witnessed the murder, the killer saw Shores on his bike, and then saw him again later that night, and they conspired and molded their stories to frame Steve Shores.
What's remarkable to me is how much weight the State put in the testimony of 2 former gang members (and 1 female friend of theirs), while completely ignoring Shores's sister's testimony. But then again, Shores did not do himself any favors, because he never told his attorney any of this.
What's sad is that Shores took the Alford Plea, which means he's still the convicted murderer of Garrison Hester.