Alabama inmate Christopher Barbour on death row granted a new trial after 31 years.

New Trial Ordered for Alabama Death Row Inmate After DNA Evidence

A federal judge has granted a new trial for an Alabama death row inmate after DNA testing revealed that the victim’s body contained the DNA of another man. The ruling came from US District Judge Emily C. Marks.

Christopher Barber, now 56, was convicted in 1992 for the stabbing death of Bishop Roberts in Thelma, Montgomery. Initially, Barber confessed to the crime, stating that he killed Roberts after an accomplice raped her. However, he later retracted his confession, claiming it was coerced by police, and insists on his innocence.

A DNA test conducted in 2021 showed that the unidentified semen found in the victim did not match either Barber or his alleged accomplice; instead, it belonged to a neighbor of Roberts, who is currently serving time for unrelated murders.

Barber’s lawyers argued in previous court proceedings that his innocence was “patently clear.”

Judge Marks highlighted that Barber’s conviction was compromised because prosecutors neglected to consider critical forensic evidence that could have exonerated him. Marks stated that this information could have raised significant doubts about the validity of Barber’s confession, which was a central piece of evidence during the trial.

“Barber demonstrated that the prosecution’s reliance on false evidence likely impacted the trial’s outcome,” Marks noted.

The state’s position has been that the new DNA findings do not exonerate Barber. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s spokesperson mentioned plans to appeal the judge’s ruling.

Barber is also pursuing a civil lawsuit, arguing that his rights were violated throughout the original trial process. Judge Marks has given the state a 90-day timeframe to prepare for the new trial.

While the judge did not take a definitive stance on Barber’s claims of innocence, she remarked that he could now discuss “as much as the umpire.” In her decision last year, she referred to the new DNA evidence as “strong evidence” that suggests Barber’s confession was false and that crucial aspects of the murder case were improperly presented at trial.