The US Supreme Court has reinstated the murder conviction of Pedro Hernandez, 64, in the 1979 disappearance of six-year-old Etan Patz from New York City. In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the court overturned a lower court ruling that had thrown out the conviction, siding with New York prosecutors who argued the verdict should stand.
Hernandez was convicted in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Patz, who vanished on 25 May 1979 while walking to a school bus stop in Manhattan's SoHo neighbourhood. Hernandez, who worked at a convenience store near the bus stop, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Patz's body was never found.
The Second Circuit US Court of Appeals had overturned the conviction in July, ruling that the trial judge gave a 'clearly wrong' and 'manifestly prejudicial' response to a jury question about whether later confessions should be disregarded if an earlier one was involuntary. The Supreme Court disagreed, stating the appeals court 'exceeded its authority' and that federal law does not allow a federal habeas court to disturb a state conviction based on its own evaluation of the evidence.
Hernandez's lawyers expressed disappointment, arguing their client's confession was false and stemmed from mental illness and prolonged police questioning before he was read his rights. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg praised the decision, saying the office remains steadfast in pursuing justice for Etan and the Patz family.
