Published: October 30, 2009 11:18 am      

NASH: Will justice ever be served in Camm case?

Nine years ago last month an unimaginable tragedy struck a family in Georgetown.

A mother and her two young children were murdered in their garage as they returned home from swim practice. Nearly everyone in our community is aware of the murders of Kim, Brad and Jill Camm although, even after three trials, countless hours of expert witnesses testimony, a book and a “48 Hours” television special, are we any closer to finding out what actually happened that night?

Over the last several weeks The Tribune has published columns that David Camm’s uncle Sam Lockhart has written. These columns are his opinions and interpretation of the facts. Most people have had their minds made up on this situation for nearly a decade and no amount of propaganda will change their mind.

At this point the only persons opinion that matters on the subject is the Floyd County Prosecutor and Mr. Henderson hasn’t announced his intentions yet. I believe that there will be a third Camm trial but with the length of time that has passed and the limitations that the courts have placed on what testimony can be presented, I believe it will be hard to get another conviction.

I must commend Mr. Lockhart and his family for their persistence. He has spent countless hours and untold dollars attempting to prove his nephew’s innocence. Personally, I believe he is guilty. In the beginning I thought that he had actually killed his family. As time has passed, I am not quite as sure of that. I do still believe that he was connected to the murders and in the eyes of the law that makes him just as guilty as if he pulled the trigger.

Besides these columns there is also a Web site devoted to the proving of David Camm’s innocence. Justicefordavidcamm.com is a comprehensive — and understandably slanted — look at what took place from the time David Camm arrived home up until the second conviction was overturned.

One of the central themes of the site and the columns is the prosecutions ever changing theories of what took place. This in no way proves either guilt or innocence. It is just a technique that is used in science as new facts come to light. An example is that hundreds of years ago the smartest minds in the world believed that the universe revolved around the Earth. As facts came in that refuted that claim it was then assumed that everything revolved around our Sun. We now know that this was also incorrect. Just because the theory has changed while new facts came to light, to me that does not prove anything.

Another problem I have with their dissemination of the evidence is Mr. Lockhart’s discrediting of information that was provided by a “prison informant” for information against David Camm, while believing as gospel the same type of information that the defense presented at the trial of co-conspirator Charles “Darnell” Boney. You cannot have it both ways.

For full disclosure I have known Darnell since grade school. We grew up a few blocks from each other and attended the same elementary school. I delivered papers in his neighborhood and I also know his mother. I have also known Sean Clemons since Jr. High School.

As far as David Camm’s infidelity, the Web site claims that it has no bearing on the crimes, while the first conviction was overturned primarily because of the testimony of the several women who testified about their relationships with Camm. The Web site describes them as reluctant, as if anyone would enjoying recapping their sex lives in open court. To me it paints a picture of a man who really did not want to be married anymore and I think it does indicate a motive.

The murder of the Camm family is one of the greatest tragedies that our community has ever seen. It has been a burden on everyone involved. It has also been a financial burden on the taxpayers of our county. I do not believe that money should be the deciding factor on whether or not there is another trial.

The Lockhart family has said that justice for David Camm would only come if he was released from jail. I believe the only way that justice is to be served is a fair trial is conducted and a jury of his peers decides his guilt or innocence.

Matthew Nash is confident that one day justice will be served. He can be reached at dmatthewnash@gmail.com