Poplar Man Convicted Of Murder Could Get New Trial

Jackie Bartz (11/24/09)

A Poplar man serving a 100 year prison sentence for a 1979 murder will get another chance to prove his innocence. Barry Beach was convicted in 1984 of killing 17 year old Kim Nees. But Beach says he's innocent. He filed a petition in 2007 asking for a new trial. He claimed new witnesses could prove his innocence. But a Roosevelt County district court judge denied that request.

Beach appealed the decision to the Montana Supreme Court, saying the judge jumped to conclucions about the witnesses without ever hearing from them. Today the Montana Supreme Court ordered that a district court judge hold a evidentiary hearing. The judge will hear the evidence, and determine if it is reliable evidence. if it is a new trial could be ordered.