FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2020

County Attorney Requests Justice Department Burrell Review

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar to request the U.S. Department of Justice undertake the review of the Myon Burrell conviction in the murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Monday.

In response to a letter Sen. Klobuchar sent to the office Mar. 5, Freeman noted that only the Department of Justice would have the resources to independently review a case that includes 30,000 pages of documents plus videotaped evidence.

Freeman also stressed in his letter that not only would his office cooperate with any review by the DOJ but his office would continue the most recent internal review of the case which began about seven months ago. That has included several meetings with Mr. Burrell’s new attorney and an agreement to review additional information which he provided.

In the letter, Freeman also mentioned that there are Minnesota Supreme Court opinions and a district court order which both detail the evidence and testimony in the two trials in which Mr. Burrell was found guilty. Those filings provide a full picture of why he was found guilty and why, ultimately, his conviction was upheld.                                                  

Look for more news on the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office website.