Bucksport - In light of new DNA evidence, Olland Reese has appealed to the high court in order to overturn a judge's ruling from earlier this year that denied his lawyer's motion for a new trial.

He was found guilty in 2003 of murdering Cody Green, who was found buried behind Reese's mother's home.

During a hearing held Friday in Bucksport, the state and defense argued over a partial palm print found on the duct tape wrapped around Green's hands.

Using new technology, Reese's attorney, Chris MacLean, said they were able to show the tape has the DNA of another person on it, which he believes should exonerate his client.

"It proves that he's innocent. The fingerprint could only have been left by the person who killed Cody Green, and after trial I was able to determine with DNA evidence that the fingerprint was left by some other male other than Olland Reese," said MacLean.

Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber countered that the evidence against Reese was overwhelming, citing the fact that Green was found wrapped in Reese's sheet behind his mother's home.

"I think that it was a veritable mountain of evidence proving that Olland Reese killed Cody Green in 2002, and the jury was aware at the time of trial that the print that was found on the duct tape wasn't Olland Reese's and that the print was contaminated. So, that mere fact that there was a little blip of male DNA on that print would not have changed the verdict at trial."

MacLean said he tried to file the motion for a new trial earlier this year under a post-conviction DNA law that lets him request more testing. Because the judge denied the request, he appealed to the justices. A decision is expected in three to six months.

Print this Story