54/12/23 Defendant\u27s Motion for New Trial

The day after Sam Sheppard was convicted of Murder in the 2nd Degree, he filed a motion for a new trial on 40 grounds (a 41st would later be added.) These grounds include: pretrial publicity, denial of a change of venue, presence of the press in the courtroom, substitution of a juror, errors in jury instructions, and denial of a motion for continuance. Find more post-trial motions and appeal documents in 1954-1966 Post-Trial Motions, Appeals, & Habeas Corpus Collections

54/10/14 Defendant\u27s Motion for Continuance for a reasonable time until the prejudicial effections of the nationwide publicity...wear off

On October 14, 1954, Sheppard\u27s defense team moved for a continuance for a reasonable time until the prejudicial effects of the nationwide publicity wear off enough to permit a fair trial. On the first page of the document, Judge Blythin wrote 10-18-54 overruled and signed his name. However, in 1966, The United States Supreme Court did indeed rule that Sheppard should be retried because the media frenzy so tainted the 1954 proceedings (Sheppard v. Maxwell decision

William J. Corrigan Affidavit

William J. Corrigan averred that Dr. Paul Kirk telephoned him and gave various replies to the affidavit of Dr. Roger Marsters

54/09/07 Defendant Sam Sheppard\u27s Motion for Bail

Sam Sheppard\u27s defense team, William J. Corrigan, Fred W. Garmone, Arthur E. Petersilge, submitted this motion for Sam to be released on bail September 7, 1954

54/10/14 Defendant\u27s Motion for Continuance for a reasonable time until the prejudicial effections of the nationwide publicity...wear off

On October 14, 1954, Sheppard\u27s defense team moved for a continuance for a reasonable time until the prejudicial effects of the nationwide publicity wear off enough to permit a fair trial. On the first page of the document, Judge Blythin wrote 10-18-54 overruled and signed his name. However, in 1966, The United States Supreme Court did indeed rule that Sheppard should be retried because the media frenzy so tainted the 1954 proceedings (Sheppard v. Maxwell decision

Appendix to Brief of Appellant: Motions for Leave to Appeal, Opinions and Journal Entries of the Court of Appeals

Appellant court documents filed with Ohio Supreme Cour

Brief of Defendant-Appellant, Sam Sheppard, Eighth District Court of Appeals Case No. 23551

In their appeal (no. 23551) brief, Sam Sheppard\u27s attorneys asserted that he should be granted a new trial based on newly discovered evidence because the defense team did not have access to the crime scene until two days after the verdict finding him guilty. Once given access to the Sheppard home, the defense hired Dr. Paul Kirk for forensic testing and analysis. Dr. Kirk discovered blood on a wardrobe door at the murder scene that he claimed did not belong to Sam or Marilyn Sheppard. Kirk further determined that forensic evidence showed that the murderer was left-handed, excluding Sam as a suspect because he was right-handed. Dr. Kirk confirmed the defense theory that the murder was probably the result of a sexual attack