Mar 17, 2006 6:19 pm US/Eastern
No New Trial For Man Convicted Of Killing Parents
by Jennifer McLogan
HAUPPAGUE (CBS) ―
Amid cries of injustice, a Suffolk County Court judge has denied the request for a new trial, and refused to overturn Martin Tankleff's convictions for the murders of his parents.
Autumn Tankleff, Marty's cousin, said "I screamed and cried when word came down."
Autumn is the victims' neice, and Marty's cousin. He is back upstate to serve out his 50 years to life sentence- unless an Appeals Court agrees to get involved.
Howard Asness,Marty's cousin, fumed, "If this isn't corruption on the highest level, I don't know what is."
Marty's family is upset with Judge Stephen Braslow's ruling that there was not enough new evidence to convince him that the then 17 year old was coerced into confessing he'd stabbed and beaten his mom and dad in their Belle Terre home.
Nor that the Tankleff's business partner who owed them half a million dollars --and was the last to leave their home that night --was involved, despite compelling testimony to the contrary.
Ronald and Carol Falbee, Marty's cousins, together said they want Marty out now. "And I want the real murderers behind bars",Ron added.
They said everyone who has attended the hearings over the past 20 months are incredulous.
Marty's legal team, too, is furious. Bruce Barket, Marty's attorney, has spent years on this case:
"Our system of justice is like a train wreck--and whether you die depends on luck and who you know."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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