A Case That Spanned Decades
Oscar Franklin Smith’s case had long been the subject of legal appeals and public debate.
Convicted largely on circumstantial evidence, he consistently asserted his innocence throughout the 35 years he spent on death row.
Supporters of Smith questioned the integrity of the forensic evidence used in his conviction, while prosecutors maintained that the weight of the evidence supported the jury’s verdict.
Tennessee has now executed 14 inmates since reinstating the death penalty in 1999.
