Monroe County Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison Denied Retrial…But Why?

“ONE LIE AFTER ANOTHER”

Interview by Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III

(Mar. 13, 2011) — The Post & Email has previously covered the case of a Monroe County, TN man currently serving an 18-year sentence handed down by Judge Carroll L. Ross who appealed his conviction but today remains in the Morgan County Correctional Complex in Wartburg, TN.

Mr. Dennis Burnett has stated that he was an eyewitness to the murder for which he was sentenced but not a participant nor the murderer himself.  During the telephone interview, he reported that Judge Ross denied his motion for a new trial.

Burnett was in the Monroe County jail briefly while awaiting his December 14, 2010 rehearing, where he met Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III during his own incarceration.  Judge Carroll Ross is on the record as having stated that Fitzpatrick’s case was heard in McMinn County, which it was not.

Burnett stated that he has been unable to obtain copies of documents from his trial despite repeated requests and that there was jury tampering in his case.  Burnett’s defense attorney, Richard Hughes, reportedly filed a “certificate of service” on February 24, 2011 to have the case reheard following the judge’s February 16 order denying the request.

“Blatant lies…I call it lies…”

“Dennis didn’t do it…Spencer done it…Why they’re saying there’s no issue, I don’t know.  He’s (Judge Ross) trying to protect himself and his court.”

Part I of Dennis Burnett Interview with Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III

Part II

Part III