DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On August 8, 2013, the Honorable W. Douglas Parsons entered an Order vacating Larry Lamb’s 1993 convictions and sentences for First Degree Murder, Common Law Robbery, and Felonious Conspiracy in connection with the murder of Mr. Leamon Grady in Mount Olive, North Carolina.
In the early morning hours of February 28, 1987, Mr. Grady was found dead in his residence from a single gunshot wound to the chest. No murder weapon was ever found. No physical evidence ever connected Mr. Lamb, or his co-defendants, Levon “Bo” Jones and Ernest Matthews, to the crime.
Judge Parsons found that “the entirety of the evidence against” Mr. Lamb at trial was the testimony of Lovely Lorden. Lorden claimed that she had been with Mr. Lamb, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Matthews when they committed the murder. In his order, Judge Parsons reached “the definitive conclusion” that her testimony at Mr. Lamb’s 1993 trial “was false and that there is more than a reasonable possibility that, had the false testimony not been admitted a different result would have been reached.” He found that the evidence showed she had “both personal and financial motives to fabricate evidence” against the men. He further stated that “fundamental fairness and due process dictate that Lorden's testimony and credibility cannot sustain Lamb's convictions.”
Mr. Lamb, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Matthews have all maintained their innocence in this case for over twenty years.
Mr. Lamb and his attorneys hope that District Attorney Ernie Lee will decide not to re-try the case and instead dismiss all charges against Mr. Lamb with prejudice on the basis of innocence.
Mr. Lamb was represented at the evidentiary hearing by Christine Mumma, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence, and Jay Ferguson, of Thomas, Ferguson & Mullins, LLP in Durham, NC. Staff Attorney Cheryl Sullivan and UNC law student Erin Briley assisted Ms. Mumma and Mr. Ferguson at the hearing.
