The families of Michael Sutton and Kenny Phillips are hoping their sons will finally be granted a new trial after both men were convicted in an attempted murder case back in 2006.
Family and friends held a peaceful protest at the front steps of the Cuyahoga County Justice Center on Oct. 5, appealing to Judge Peter J. Corrigan to grant a retrial in the case.
Phillips and Sutton were convicted in a shooting that took place at the intersection of East 55th and Woodland Avenue, that sent two people to the hospital.
But the families report two Cleveland police officers later issued sworn statements after the trial, stating the car Sutton and Phillips were riding in couldn't have been involved in the incident.
Roberta Sutton said the Ohio Innocence Project and the Cuyahoga County Conviction Integrity have played a critical role in getting a retrial on the desk of Judge Corrigan after an Ohio appeals court ruled a new trial should be granted in the case.
"I want to thank the Ohio Innocence Project, and the conviction integrity unit for even just taking our case," Sutton said.
"We just want to get the word out, to let them know that we're out here, and we're not going to stop," she said.
Sutton said she will continue to fight for her son's freedom and believes changes in state law are needed to help to speed up the process of obtaining a retrial, once new evidence is confirmed in a case.
"We found new evidence, it has been to the Ohio Supreme Court, the Supreme Court said yes to them," said Sutton.
News 5 contacted a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court spokesman, and he told News 5 Judge Corrigan hopes to start work on the case on Oct. 8, and will hopefully make a decision on a retrial for Sutton and Phillips, by the end of that week.
