Federal judges have overturned the murder conviction of a Battle Creek woman who was found guilty of stabbing a bartender to death over 20 years ago during a robbery.
Three judges voted unanimously that Hattie Mae Tanner should get a new trial, in part because the blood found on the victim’s clothing could not have belonged to Tanner. There also wasn’t any DNA evidence linking her to the crime.
Sharon Watson was found stabbed to death in the cellar of Barney’s Bar in 1995. The judges say a “rational jury” would have had reasonable doubt.
She was sentenced to life without parole for felony murder.
The 57-year-old woman, who was known as “Tootsie Roll” by her friends, has always insisted she was innocent. She’s been serving time since 2000.
The prosecutor in Calhoun County now has to decide whether to retry the case or drop the charges.
