Kimberly Nees Murder
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The Murder of Kimberly Ann Nees took place in Poplar, Montana on the night of June 16, 1979. Nees, a seventeen-year-old graduating senior, was attacked while in her pickup near the Poplar River on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Barry Allan Beach, a seventeen year old at the time, was convicted and sentenced to 100 years in jail without parole on the basis of a confession alone. No other witness testimony or forensic evidence were presented.[1] The case has received much attention as many people believe Beach to be innocent.[2]
Beach later denied the confession, saying that it was forced, and appealed the decision in 2007.[3] The appeal was denied.
In 2008, the murder and investigation was the subject of a two hour Dateline TV special on NBC called "The Killing on Poplar River".
On December 8, 2011, Barry Beach was released Wednesday pending a new trial in the killing of a 17-year-old Poplar girl. Beach’s release came just weeks after Fergus County District Judge E. Wayne Phillips ruled that there was enough new evidence in the 1979 murder of Kim Nees to justify a new trial for Beach. Phillips said his granting Beach a new trial was not to be construed as a presumption of innocence. Rather, it was a statement that enough new evidence in the case had surfaced that it was reasonable to believe a jury could rule in Beach’s favor.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Montanans for Justice - A group of people who are working on Barry Beach's behalf
- Great Falls Tribune Story
- Dateline MSNBC
- [1]
[edit] References
- ^ missoulian.com
- ^ Jennifer Mckee: truthinjustice.org "Group alleges Poplar man innocent of 1979 murder"
- ^ Tristan Scott: missoulian.com "Barry Beach gets chance to make his case before clemency board"
