DNA test clears man of murder

After more than two years in jail facing a charge of murder, Henry Reginald Stewart was released from the Nassau County Jail on July 11, his 45th birthday.

Assistant State Attorney Stephen Bledsoe dropped a murder charge against Stewart, making him a free man.

Had he been convicted of the charge, Stewart would have faced life in prison or death by lethal injection.

Bledsoe said DNA testing re-vealed a bloody palm print found in the home of Georgette Stewart, a 44-year-old woman found dead in 2003, did not belong to the victim or to Henry Stewart.

"(The print) had never been specifically compared to Henry Stewart's palm print," Bledsoe said. "... I submitted (the print for testing) and the result was that the palm print was not that of Henry Stewart - it is compelling exonerating evidence."

A fingerprint belonging to Henry Stewart was found in the victim's home, but because Stewart was a neighbor and former brother-in-law to the victim and was known to visit her home, Bledsoe said the fingerprint was "not of a very significant, compelling nature ... and that was the only other forensic evidence that was specifically identifiable that we had."

Georgette Stewart was found dead in her singlewide trailer home at 1522 Stewart Ave. on Amelia Island on Sept. 11, 2003.

Her stepfather, Ernest Coes, found her body after he went to her home to check on her after she failed to show up for work at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Jacksonville.

Police said she had been beaten and stabbed to death.

On Jan. 26, 2005, Stewart was arrested for murder after an investigation by the Nassau County Sheriff's Office.

Henry Stewart's attorney, Gary Baker, said Stewart had

maintained his innocence all along.

Baker praised Bledsoe for having the evidence tested and for dropping the murder charge when he learned the print did not belong to Henry Stewart.

"He took it upon himself to have it tested, probably trying to strengthen his case, and ... (now) everybody's convinced (Stewart) did not do it, could not do it,

somebody else did it," Baker said. "... And I do want to give kudos for Mr. Bledsoe for seeking justice."

Absent the exonerating palm print, Baker said he is unsure he could have secured an acquittal for Henry Stewart had the case gone to trial.

"Had we gone to trial with this fingerprint and that he had been in her house, there is a possibility, or even a likelihood, that he could have been convicted of first-degree murder."

Baker said after spending two years in jail, Stewart does not have a job to return to, but he has a supportive family and Baker said he hopes employers in the area will give him an opportunity to start over.

"I wasn't there, and I don't know when a client tells me they didn't do it if they're telling the truth," Baker said. "So this is very gratifying to me, that here I had believed him, and my faith was justified in Mr. Stewart."

Bledsoe said the investigation into Georgette Stewart's murder will continue.