Updated 2:37 p.m. with St. Louis Public Radio story.
Lawyers for a man convicted in the rape and murder of a St. Louis woman nearly 30 years ago filed papers in a Cole County Circuit Court Monday asking it to overturn his conviction.
They cite new DNA evidence they say proves George Allen did not rape and murder Mary Bell in her LaSalle Park home on February 4, 1982. He has been imprisoned ever since.
Olga Akselrod with the New York-based Innocence Project says they are asking Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to confirm the new findings and expedite the effort to free Allen.
"It really depends on the Attorney General and what he does with this case," Akselrod said. "So, we have sent to the Attorney General a letter requesting a meeting with him. And we very much look forward to having that meeting to talking about all this evidence in detail with him."
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce has worked with the Innocence Project to study the DNA evidence. In a statement, Joyce says she believes the DNA and other evidence neither confirms nor refutes the jury verdict in this matter.
