Mike Chapel's Defense team will present new evidence at a Sept. 29 hearing before Gwinnett Superior Court Judge Fred A. Bishop with the hopes he grants a new trial in the April 15, 1993 slaying of Emogene Thompson. Recently Judge Bishop signed an order allowing Washington defense attorney Randy Mott to handle Chapel’s appeal as lead council. Atlanta attorney John Pickens will represent Mr. Chapel as local council.
When asked what his thoughts were on this new hearing District Attorney Danny Porter replied, "I am convinced the man who killed Emogene is in Reidsville Prison." Mr. Porter also mentioned that he took no pleasure in convicting Mike Chapel and that if new evidence that proved his claims of innocence was to appear he would do whatever he could to have Mike released.
No murder weapon was ever found although several guns were tested including a Charter Arms 357 that was discovered on S. Lee St. in Buford. This weapon matched the type of gun used in the killing but county ballistics experts claim it was too corroded to make a positive match.
Neither side has agreed on how to sit down and discuss the new evidence. Mr. Porter stated that he is willing to go over any new evidence the defense may have but not if he must spend taxpayers money to fly to Washington to do so. Mr. Randy Mott agreed to sit down and discuss the case but only in the office of Ohio Congressman James A. Traficant, Jr.
Congressman Traficant, a former sheriff now representing Ohio's 17th District in the US House of Representatives, became familiar with the case as the Honorary Chairman of the National Police Defense Foundation.
Mike Chapel's defense team's lead investigator Boris Korczak remains reluctant to release any information on the new evidence fearing it may be compromised before the new trial hearing. He says this evidence proves that a conspiracy took place in the alleged wrongful conviction of former officer Mike Chapel. Mr. Korczak also addressed being criticized for his investigation techniques by saying, "I wasn't a police detective, I was a spy." Mr. Korczak served the CIA as a undercover agent during the cold war era.
It is the contention of Chapel's Defense that Mike was convicted based on evidence that may have been tainted by certain Gwinnett Police officers who wanted to silence him for his knowledge of corruption and drug dealings.
Mr. Porter commented on these allegations by asking, "Why didn't Mike present these allegations during the trial?"
When this was asked of Mr. Korczak he relied, "You might want to ask Mr. Moore that question."
Lawrenceville Attorney Johnny Moore was Chapel's attorney until last month when he was replaced by Mr. Randy Mott. At the hearing for a new lawyer contended Chapel's former attorney did an inadequate job of presenting all available evidence to the jury.
At the time of this printing Mr. Moore was unavailable for comment.