March 9th, 2006
IIAO, Cleveland
On March 7th, 2006, visiting judge H.F. Interlied Jr. rendered his judgment against John Peters denying his Motion for New Trial.

During the two days of evidentiary hearings in November last year we heard startling testimony revealing how exculpatory evidence was withheld from defense counsel by then prosecutor Timothy McGinty.

We also witnessed the Honorable Judge McGinty attempt to deceive the court by filing a fraudulent document as legitimate, but he was exposed.

Judge Interlied's judgment is surprisingly void of these facts.

11/15/05
CLEVELAND, OH
The second day of hearings began early with a new piece of evidence prepared last night by Judge Timothy McGinty, and given to Assistant Prosecutor Regas to file in this court. See Review

Hearings Begin With a Strong Start
Four Witnesses Testified for Peters

11/14/05
CLEVELAND, OH
Today defense attorney Ian N. Friedman called four witnesses to testify in behalf of John E. Peters Jr., in support of his Motion for a New Trial. See Review

10/28/05
CLEVELAND, OH
Hearings will begin on Monday, November 14th, before retired visiting judge H. F. Interlied, Jr., to see if John E. Peters, Jr., can show that state prosecutors withheld documents that would have caused a different verdict.

Judge Stuart A. Friedman recused himself from this case after granting leave on April 13, 2005, because Cuyahoga Judge Timothy J. McGinty was the prosecutor at the 1988 trial. 

The new evidence in this case stems from documents recovered by a private investigator, which indicate that State officials knew of John's daughter's recantation before the trial, but refused to disclose them to the defense as required by law.

The State's theory rested on the testimony of CFS worker Vera Perkins-Hughes, who denied that the child had recanted her story, and was found to be in possession of some exculpatory materials which had been withheld, during cross examination at the original trial.

Records show that allegations of abuse were first suggested by the social worker during private interviews, but never confirmed by other investigating agencies, and actually denied by the 8 year-old in several interviews before and after the trial. 

After 17 years in prison, Peters hopes the court will see how the prosecutor's hidden documents would have made a difference at his trial, if the jury had known the truth about the conflicting statements.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office continues to try to prevent all attempts to discover the remaining contents of police and CFS files created during the investigation, but was recently denied their Motion to Quash the Subpoena for the documents on October 28th.

Trial transcripts reveal that ninety percent of McGinty's presentation to the jury was a character assassination condemning Peters' reckless lifestyle, which was not part of the indictments.

Peters has always maintained his innocence from the beginning. Through his attorney, Ian N. Friedman, John Peters cites seven verifiable recantations where his daughter has denied that he ever abused her, in his Reply to the State's Brief in Opposition, filed July 8, 2005.

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