Preview:

02/11/2011 "See News Release 010 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 10-C-2229 GERALD BURGE Versus STATE OF LOUISIANA ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

Per Curiam The Plaintiff, Gerald Burge, was charged with second degree murder of Douglas Frierson ("victim") in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1986. Subsequent to his sentencing, Mr. Burge discovered that the lead investigating detective, Gary Hale had exculpatory, material evidence, such as investigatory reports, tapes, and statements, hidden in the trunk of his car.1 When asked why was he hiding these reports, Hale admitted to his former Chief of Detectives E.L. Herman, "Some of

Detective Hale, upon resigning from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, married the victim's sister, "whom he met and began dating during his investigation of her brother's murder." See, Burge v. Parish of St. Tammany, (5th Cir. 8/25/99),187 F.3d 452, 459. In June 1991, Mr. Burge filed a federal civil suit in June of 1991, seeking damages against the district attorney, assistant district attorney, sheriff, and deputies for deprivation of his constitutional right to due process and a fair trial under 42 U.S.C.A.

Download 2010-C-2229 GERALD BURGE v. STATE OF LOUISIANA.pdf

Louisiana Law