Photos: Arguments heard to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction
Christopher Dunn, 52, has spent almost 35 years in prison, but ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore’s office argues that police and previous prosecutors got it wrong, and Dunn is innocent. A hearing was held to decide whether to vacate Dunn’s murder conviction on May 22 and 23, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
Tristin Estep, left, a lawyer with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, asks witness Eugene Wilson to mark street lights on amp of North City during cross-examination during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Martha Dunn, the mother of Christopher Dunn, listens to testimony during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate her son Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn, center, listens to Special Assistant with ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office Rachael Moore, right, examine a witness on the first day of his hearing to decide whether to vacate his murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore listens to witness testimony during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse.
Special Assistant with ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office Rachael Moore questions witness Eugene Wilson during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Crime scene reconstruction expert Scott Roder testifies as to how he made his animation video of the shooting during direct examination by Special Assistant with ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's Office Layla Husen during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Crime scene reconstruction expert Scott Roder testifies as to how he made his animation video of the shooting during direct examination by Special Assistant with ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's Office Layla Husen during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
A screen shot of the video animation of the shooting created by crime scene reconstruction expert Scott Roder presented during direct examination by Special Assistant with ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's Office by Layla Husen during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn's lawyer Justin Bonus listens as Andrew Krane, prosecutor with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, cross examines a witness during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Special Assistant to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's Office Layla Husen pauses during direct examination of crime scene reconstruction expert Scott Roder during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Andrew Krane, prosecutor with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, cross -examines crime scene reconstruction expert Scott Roder during the first day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn visits with his wife, Kira, left, his son Sequoia, 19, and mother Martha Dunn, at the conclusion of the first day of his hearing to decide whether to vacate his murder conviction on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn walks into the courtroom placing his hand on his heart as he looks towards his wife during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate his murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn, left, leans in to listen to his attorney, Justin Bonus of New York City, during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn’s murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
Nicole Bailey testifies she was talking to Christopher Dunn from roughly 11 pm to 1 am on the night of the shooting, during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn, center, listens to the testimony of witness Nicole Bailey during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Special assistant to ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's Office Layla Husen, left, objects to a question by Tristin Estep, right, prosecutor with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Tristin Estep, prosecutor with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, asks a question of witness Nicole Bailey, during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn, right, listens to Midwest Innocence Project attorney Rachel Wester, during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Judge Jason Sengheiser swears in eyewitness identification expert Nancy Franklin during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Judge Jason Sengheiser listens to testimony of eyewitness identification expert Nancy Franklin during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Booker Shaw, special assistant with the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office, listens to testimony during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Eyewitness identification expert Nancy Franklin testifies during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn, background right, and his legal team listen as special assistant ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office Rachael Moore questions eyewitness identification expert Nancy Franklin during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Special assistant with ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office Rachael Moore displays the booking photos of Christopher Dunn that were used as part of a photographic lineup during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Retired ºüÀêÊÓƵ Police Sgt. Gary Stittum, who was a detective on the scene the night of the shooting, testifies during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore listens to testimony of retired ºüÀêÊÓƵ Police Sgt. Gary Stittum, who was a detective on the scene the night of the shooting, during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn listens to the testimony of retired ºüÀêÊÓƵ Police Sgt. Gary Stittum, who was a detective on the scene the night of the shooting, during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore cross-examines retired ºüÀêÊÓƵ Police Sgt. Gary Stittum, who was a detective on the scene the night of the shooting, during the second day of the hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Jeff Manci, a retired investigator with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, testifies about inmate behavior during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Under direct examination by Tristin Estep, prosecutor with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, retired ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Judge Steve Ohmer reads his trial notes from the Christopher Dunn trial during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn’s murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn listen to testimony during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate his murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore listens as Tristin Estep, prosecutor with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, advocates to retain the conviction of Christopher Dunn during closing arguments on the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
Christopher Dunn listens as ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore argues to vacate Dunn’s conviction during closing arguments on the second day of a hearing Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.
Tristin Estep, prosecutor with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, gives her closing argument during the second day of a hearing to decide whether to vacate Christopher Dunn's murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Christopher Dunn, right, listens as Booker Shaw, special assistant with ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office, speaks during the second day of Dunn's hearing to decide whether to vacate his murder conviction on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Kira Dunn, who is married to Christopher Dunn, listens as ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore argues to vacate her husband's murder conviction during closing arguments on the second day of a hearing on the case on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore argues to vacate Christopher Dunn's conviction during closing arguments on the second day of a hearing in the case on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Dunn, 52, has maintained his innocence for more than three decades in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Pool photo by Laurie Skrivan via ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Laurie Skrivan
Photographer
Among the lawyers to argue in favor of freeing 52-year-old Christopher Dunn from prison was ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, who cross-examined a witness and delivered closing statements himself on Wednesday.
A new law could help set Christopher Dunn free after 34 years in prison for a murder the evidence suggests he didn’t commit.
