A Knoxville man's conviction for attempted murder has been overturned, with a new trial granted based on fresh cell phone evidence that places him away from the scene of a 2021 shooting near Austin-East Magnet High School. Ahmad Gatlin, who was 16 at the time of the incident, had been serving a 31-year sentence for his alleged role in the shooting. The reversal came after Knox County Criminal Court Judge Steven Sword acknowledged new technology provided evidence supporting Gatlin's alibi, Knox News reported.
Gatlin's defense team uncovered the evidence, which included geolocation data from a Snapchat metadata showing Gatlin was at his girlfriend's apartment at the time of the shooting. This information contradicts the state's previous assertion that Gatlin was involved in the attack. "Digital evidence is today's DNA," attorney and founder of the Wrongful Convictions Clinic, Stephen Ross Johnson, told Knox News, highlighting the import of modern digital forensics.
The case has been fraught with controversy, as prior cell phone evidence presented by the prosecution placed Gatlin near the shooting's location. However, new analysis of Gatlin's iPhone XR showed it was on the West side of Knoxville when the shooting occurred. This differs significantly from the claims made during the initial trial, prompting Gatlin's attorneys to file a motion for a new trial, which was unopposed by the state. WATE stated that Gatlin's conviction was overturned and a new trial ordered.
One key element to the reversal was Gatlin's consistent assertion of innocence, backed by his defense team's claim that vital evidence had been withheld by prosecutors. According to WBIR, Gatlin's lawyer argued that prosecution failed to provide Snapchat metadata during the original trial, which adversely affected the outcome. This evidence was recently made accessible to the defense team, further shedding light on Gatlin's whereabouts during the shooting.
The new findings have prompted a reevaluation of the case, with Judge Sword lauding both the defense for their aggressive litigation and the prosecutors for following their oaths to justice. A successor judge will now set a bond for Gatlin, and a date for the new trial will be established, as reported by WBIR.
