Facebook Post Leads to New Trial for Highers Brothers Serving Life Sentence for Murder

Gone are the days when social media engagement is considered as an ineffective means of communication. Social media sites especially Facebook is very effective when it comes to raising awareness for a particular course.

The two Detroit brothers who have served 25 years of their life in prison for murder are now getting new trial after a post on Facebook concerning the incident.

MyFoxDetroit.com, a news site based in Detroit has reported that a  local judge has last week over-tuned the murder convictions of Raymond Highers and his brother, Thomas Highers, who were sentenced to life in imprisonment for their part in the 1987 murder of Robert Karey at his home in Detroit.

The brothers after the hearing now face a new trial in the case, which is a great opportunity they may never have gotten in their lifetime if not for a seemingly ordinary post on Facebook.

Back then in 2009, a local woman named Mary Evans posted an update on the Northeast Detroit Alumni’s Facebook page about the Highers brothers’ case as thus:

“[All] I said was it’s too bad or it’s sad that the Highers brothers are in prison for life, and that there just started this domino effect,” Mary Evans said as quoted from MyFoxDetroit.com.

However, the Detroit Free Press later reports the facebook post which later led to several witnesses coming forward, including high school students at the time of the incident, who said they were at Robert Karey’s house that night when he was shot.Highers brothers sees God's grace with Facebook post

Four witnesses give evidence before a judge at a hearing that took place in March. Two of them claimed they went to Karey’s back door to buy drugs. They testified that they were interrupted by some armed black men who rushed into the back yard and forced them to leave. One of the four witnesses also testified that he heard a gunshot as they fled back to the car.

However, the testimony gave them a sign of relief because the Highers brothers are white, not black as the eye witnesses claimed the killers were. Highers lawyers say none of witnesses testifying to the incident never went to the police because at that time, as one of them put it, the witnesses were “just kids” who had no better understanding of the incident talk less of contacting police.

Now the Highers brother’s family is hopeful that a new trial could lead to their release, although, the highers brothers will still remain in the prison without bond for the time being.

“I knew this day would come.  It is just sad it took 25 years,” Scott Highers, their brother said according to MyFoxDetroit’s report.  “I know they will be home.  It is just frustrating when.  We want them home ASAP.”

Via ~ Fox News

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