Thomas Wright, fugitive?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:14:54 -0500

One of state Rep. Thomas Wright's attorneys compares his client to Dr. Richard Kimble.

Kimble is name of the fictional character in the TV show and film "The Fugitive" who is falsely accused and convicted of the murder of his wife, David Ingram reports.

Wright's attorney Douglas Harris told a legislative committee Monday that the character was based on Sam Sheppard, an Ohio physician convicted of murdering his wife and, later, famously acquitted.

Sheppard's case is now taught in law schools because public officials were overzealous in presuming Sheppard's guilt, Harris said.

"That's pretty much what you're doing here," Harris said. "Unless you want to be studied in every law school in America, you ought to be careful about what you're doing here."

Harris said Wright would not be able to get a fair trial on criminal charges in Wake County if the House were to discipline Wright on ethics charges.

Previously, Harris compared Wright to members of the Duke lacrosse team and to victims of lynching.

Shameless Plug: N&O reporter Joe Neff's brother, James, has a book on the Sheppard case.

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Thomas Wright, fugitive?