Sandra Hemme was released from prison after serving 43 years for a manslaughter she did not commit

A woman who served 43 years in prison for a murder she did not commit has had her sentence overturned and released.

In November 1980, Sandra Hemmy was 20 when she stabbed librarian Patricia Jeschke of St. Joseph, Missouri. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

A review of her case found no evidence linking her to the crime, other than her confession under heavy sedation in a psychiatric hospital.

Now 64, she is believed to have served the longest known wrongful conviction for a woman in American history, according to deputies.

Her legal team at the Innocence Project said they were grateful Ms Hemmy had finally been reunited with her family and they would “continue to fight” to clear her name.

Although he is not in jail, his case is still under review.

Circuit Court Judge Ryan Horsman The original 118-page judgment It overturned his conviction on June 14. A clear proof of his innocence is the MS. Including evidence that Hemmin’s lawyers had and was not given to his defense team at the time.

“This Court finds that the totality of the evidence supports a finding of actual innocence,” Judge Horsman concluded.

The review found that local police ignored evidence that pointed directly to one of their own officers, Michael Holman, who went to prison for another crime and died in 2015.

Holman’s truck was found in the area on the day of the murder, his alibi could not be confirmed, and he used Patricia Jeschke’s credit card.

A pair of distinctive gold earrings identified by Ms Jeschke’s father were also found at Holman’s home.

None of this was reported to Ms Hemm’s defense team at the time, the review said.

Ms. Hemme was questioned by the police several times under the influence of an antipsychotic and a powerful anesthetic after being involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital. From the age of 12 he was receiving psychiatric treatment from time to time.

Her responses were “monosyllabic” and “she was completely unaware of what was going on,” court documents show, adding that at times she could not hold her head straight and was in pain from muscle spasms — a side effect of the medication.

Judge Horsman’s review noted that no forensic evidence linked Ms Hemm to the murder. She has no motive and no witnesses linking her to the crime.

After being released, she reunited with her family at a nearby park, where she hugged her sister, daughter and granddaughter.

Her father was hospitalized and receiving palliative care this week. Her legal team said she plans to meet with him as soon as possible.

Defense attorney Sean O’Brien told the Star that he will still need help because he has spent most of his life in prison and is ineligible for Social Security.