Posted on 05/17/2022 5:57:37 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Margaret Rudin, who was convicted of murdering her husband, has had her conviction vacated.
Rudin's attorney, M. Greg Mullanax, confirmed the ruling to 13 Action News on Monday.
The so-called "Black Widow of Las Vegas" was released from prison in 2019 and, at last report, was living with her family in Illinois. She appealed her conviction of first-degree murder on the grounds that her initial defense counsel was ineffective and plagued by conflicts of interest.
In a 68-page ruling on Sunday, Nevada's district court justices concluded that Rudin's Sept. 17, 2001 murder conviction should be vacated. Mullanax clarified that the ruling is not a determination of Rudin's guilt or innocence in Ron Rudin's murder, but a determination that her conviction no longer stands.
Rudin served 20 years in prison for murder
Margaret Rudin, the so-called "Black Widow of Las Vegas" who spent 20 years in prison for her husband's murder, had her conviction vacated by District Court judges in Nevada. Watch the full series on Rudin's case at ktnv.com/rudin.
Margaret Rudin was convicted of killing her millionaire husband Ron Rudin in 1994 and spoke on TV for the first time since her release from prison. Margaret Rudin was convicted of killing her millionaire husband Ron Rudin in 1994 and spoke on TV for the first time since her release from prison. Margaret Rudin was convicted of killing her millionaire husband Ron Rudin in 1994 and spoke on TV for the first time since her release from prison. By: KTNV StaffPosted at 2:27 PM, May 16, 2022 and last updated 9:22 AM, May 17, 2022 LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Margaret Rudin, who was convicted of murdering her husband, has had her conviction vacated.
Rudin's attorney, M. Greg Mullanax, confirmed the ruling to 13 Action News on Monday.
The so-called "Black Widow of Las Vegas" was released from prison in 2019 and, at last report, was living with her family in Illinois. She appealed her conviction of first-degree murder on the grounds that her initial defense counsel was ineffective and plagued by conflicts of interest.
MORE: Las Vegas' 'Black Widow' Margaret Rudin speaks on TV for first time since prison
In a 68-page ruling on Sunday, Nevada's district court justices concluded that Rudin's Sept. 17, 2001 murder conviction should be vacated. Mullanax clarified that the ruling is not a determination of Rudin's guilt or innocence in Ron Rudin's murder, but a determination that her conviction no longer stands.
Recent Stories from ktnv.com
Rudin's millionaire husband Ron was murdered in 1994. Police said he was shot in his sleep, and his burned body was later found in the Nevada desert.
She was indicted in 1997 and went on the run, disguising herself and assuming different identities. She was eventually tracked down and arrested in October of 1999 in Massachusetts, and brought back to Nevada to stand trial in the murder case.
Questions about the effectiveness of Rudin's defense, led by now-deceased attorney Michael J. Amador, began from the moment of opening statements in her trial. At one point, Rudin herself spoke up and addressed the judge: "Your honor, I would like a mistrial," she said.
IN-DEPTH: The Black Widow: Web of Deception
The court's ruling contains allegations that Amador was unprepared for the trial, and that he "lied to the court because he had book and movie contracts regarding the Rudin case."
Rudin was ultimately convicted and sentenced to serve two life sentences in prison, with the possibility of parole on each sentence after 10 years. She served 20 years before she was paroled in 2019. She has maintained her innocence.
Now, prosecutors have 30 days to file a motion to appeal the court's ruling or to retry the case. If not, Rudin must be released from all custody or restraints, including probation or parole. If the state decides to retry Rudin, jury selection must begin within 120 days, according to the ruling.
Law is in the courtroom, justice is in the alley.
I’ve always wondered whether ineffective counsel is sometimes the only way to get the client off. In which case it is hardly ineffective. A paradox.
In the Museum of Hard to Read Articles, this one will be on a pedestal right inside the front door.
I am so tired of women getting away with murder.
Groundhog Day reading that.
It seems to happen a lot. Cut-n-P-P-P-Paste.
I don’t know the story. Any possibility she really IS innocent?
A lot of Deja Vu in your posted excerpt.
How did she get two life sentences for killing one person?
She used to be a lot better looking; sheer elegance stepping out of Ron’s black Rolls. She did her husband and should have hung for it. I used to work for Ron Rudin. He was a good man.
My boss at the time partied with Amador at the 4 Queens while the trial was taking place. Booze, blow, and hookers are not the three pillars of successful litigation.
His remains were found in an antique steamer trunk. She owned an antique shop. Blood spatter in their bedroom. The possibility seems unlikely.
Whoa.
I was thinking the same thing. My eyes were spinning after reading that article.
[I don’t know the story. Any possibility she really IS innocent?]
Hang ‘er high!
They finally got the money to the right place. America has the best Criminal Justice System money can buy.
Not sure but sometimes when they can’t give the death penalty, but possibly would have liked to, seems they do this, and part of it is probably to keep the person from getting out of jail.
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