Day 3: Zach Adams’ former defense attorney appears for cross-examination
SAVANNAH, Tenn. — We have continuing coverage of Zach Adams’ post-conviction relief hearing in the Holly Bobo murder case.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Day 2: Zach Adams recounts his whereabouts on day Holly Bobo went missing
Friday, they have defense attorney Jennifer Thompson on the stand who Attorney Doug Bates claims had insufficient council with Adams during his original conviction.
“Were you competent and effective at the trial in September of 2017?” asked Bates.
“I don’t think so. I think I was still trying very hard,” said Thompson.
On the stand, Thompson claims that her mental health was declining adding that she was bullied by others on the case to get Adams to plead guilty in this case.
“This is the first time in my years that I’ve practiced law that I really felt there was sexism going on. The men in the case were discounting what I had to say and the information I had because I was female,” said Thompson.
Friday, Thompson admits that she did not have video evidence to support Adams claim. She tells the court she didn’t think it exist.
“Had you communicated to Zach that you did not feel prepared?” asked Bates.
“No,” Thompson responded.
“Did you communicate with him that your mental health was declining?” asked Bates.
“No,” Thompson responded.
“Did you communicate to the court that there are still these videos of an ATM that nobody has seems to have found?” asked Bates.
“Probably not, because at that point I thought the videos didn’t exist,” said Thompson.
Thompson also admits that she did not hire a ballistics expert to examine the shell casings found near Holly’s remains.
“Do you understand the significance of a casing next to the remains? Yes what is the significance?
“The significance is that’s most likely the bullet that killed holly bobo…it’s right there next to her remains. For the first six months or so I was lost in the case because there was no IR’s. They gave me some IR’s but they were mixed in so there was no narrative that said this is what happened,” Thompson responded.
Judge Brent Bradberry presided over the hearing for cross examination for what has become the biggest investigation in TBI history.
We’ll continue to bring you more updates as the court proceedings unfold.
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