New York Appellate Court says Judge in Shawn Exford double murder trial failed to instruct jury on circumstantial evidence; reverses original conviction and orders new trial

LOWVILLE- There has been a major development in the case of Shawn Exford, the man originally convicted in a double murder trial for starting a fire that resulted in the deaths of two people in the fall of 2019.

Numerous sources suggest that the New York State Appellate Court has just reversed Exford’s conviction and is now ordering a new trial.

According to the ruling on Friday, the court agreed with Exford’s argument that he was convicted on circumstantial evidence. Also, the court pointed out that the judge in the trial apparently failed to instruct the jury based on that circumstantial evidence.

Exford was sentenced to 25 to life during the spring of 2022.

During his original sentencing, Exford claimed that he did not intentionally mean to hurt anyone the night of the fire and would not admit to something he did not do.

Lewis County Courthouse image.