Text 
1 Comment [ View ]Griffin's attorneys name new suspect in '84 murder / Man identifies old co-worker who may have targeted clerk
By Tim GurristerBRIGHAM CITY -- Attorneys for convicted killer Glenn Howard Griffin have filed a motion for a new trial, naming a new potential suspect in the slaying of Bradley Newell Perry.
Court documents filed Monday in 1st District Court allege an Ohio man who said he came to Utah "to kill a few Mormons" may have murdered Perry on May 26, 1984.
Griffin was convicted Nov. 14 of Perry's murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole after a six-week trial.
Five days after the jury verdict, Steven Barker contacted the Ogden law offices of Randy Richards and Dee Smith, Griffin's public defenders. Barker left a message saying he had information about a man he said was Perry's actual killer, a Dale or Dell Henderson, according to the new filings.
Barker said he came forward out of guilt after hearing of Griffin's conviction, allegedly telling a private investigator that Henderson all but admitted to the murder, according to the court files.
Private investigator Michael Stewart, of Ogden, said in his affidavit of Dec. 23 that it took weeks to locate Barker because the phone number he left went unanswered, then was listed as disconnected or no longer in service.
Calls to prosecutors and the defense team were not immediately returned Tuesday, but Stewart said Barker lives in Davis County while Henderson's whereabouts are unknown. He said it isn't clear if he alone or law enforcement would be employed to locate Henderson.
According to the court papers, Barker and Henderson were co-workers in 1984, working at a company that built parts for roller coasters that was on the same street and near the gas station, then a Texaco, now a Sinclair, where Perry was killed.
Henderson was laid off the day of the homicide, angrily blaming his job loss on the fact he wasn't a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Barker told Stewart.
Barker said he believes Henderson probably committed the crime because "he was very angry that night and did not like Mormons," according to Stewart's affidavit.
"Mr. Barker stated that both he and Mr. Henderson were well aware that the victim Brad Perry was a Mormon and that he had been very outspoken of his belief in the Mormon Church," the affidavit reads.
"He said that he would make it a point with the customers to talk about the church and attempt to teach customers about the church."
Barker said the day after Perry was killed he saw a composite drawing of the suspect in the media and "it looked just like the employee Mr. Henderson."
"Mr. Barker also stated that Mr. Henderson later asked him 'Did you see my picture in the paper?' "
Barker, according to the affidavit, also said "this killing has troubled him over the past 24 years and when he saw that Mr. Griffin had been convicted of the crime he finally came forward so that an injustice would not occur."
"Based upon this newly discovered evidence," states the motion for a new trial filed with 1st District Judge Ben Hadfield, "the defendant respectfully requests this court to grant a new trial wherein this evidence may be presented to the jury."
No court dates have been set.
The stabbing and bludgeoning death of the 22-year-old Perry came in the early morning hours at the gas station in a dispute police say started over correct change.
Key to the case was Griffin's DNA found on a dollar bill that police say he gave to two customers as he pretended to be working at the station moments after the killing.
New DNA procedures matched the blood to Griffin in 2005, leading to his arrest.
(Updated December 30, 2008 10:52 p.m.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIGHAM CITY -- Attorneys for convicted killer Glenn Howard Griffin have filed a motion for a new trial for Griffin, naming another potential suspect in the slaying.
Court documents filed in 1st District Court Monday allege a man who said he "came to Utah to kill a few Mormons" may have actually murdered Bradley Newell Perry on May 26, 1984.
Griffin was convicted of the killing last month and sentenced to life in prison without parole after a six-week trial. Five days after the jury verdict a man named Steven Barker contacted the Ogden law offices of Randy Richards and Dee Smith, Griffin's public defenders.
Barker left a message he had information on a man he said was Perry's actual killer.
Barker said he came forward out of guilt after hearing of Griffin's conviction, telling a private investigator who located him this month the man all but admitted to the murder, according to the court files.
Add Your Comment
All I want to say is...... If this Barker guy
was so concerned about it, why in the crap didn't he tell someone about it when he saw the picture in the media the following day? also, whether or not a person likes Mormons certainly would not mean they should brutally torture and kill them.
Please read our posting guidelines before reporting a comment.