Judge grants new trial for man convicted of murder, rape of Montgomery woman

A judge has granted a new trial for a man on death row who was convicted of the rape and murder of a woman from Montgomery in 1992. 

A memorandum opinion and order released by Chief U.S. District Judge Emily C. Marks stated that in March of that year Christopher Barbour confessed to murdering Thelma Bishop Roberts at her home. 

Barbour also reportedly confessed that he and another defendant, Michael Mitchell aided and abetted another man, Christopher Hester, in raping her. 

Barbour was sentenced to death for the crime. 

However, years later he claimed innocence and began appealing the sentence. On Aug. 16 in 2024 a court granted him an actual innocence gateway claim after DNA evidence suggested that semen found at the scene of the crime belonged to that of another man. 

The order states that Barbour has made several claims about his trial in 1991, namely that his constitutional rights were violated and that his confession was coerced. 

He made a petition that was denied in parts but granted him the request for a new trial.