Belynda Goff stepped from 23 years of uncertainty and despair into the light of freedom Thursday after giving tearful testimony to a packed Berryville courtroom the day before that saw Carroll County Circuit Judge Scott Jackson set her free for the years she's already served.
Thus ended a large and nightmarish portion of the woman's life sentence for the brutal murder of her husband Stephen in their Green Forest apartment in 1994.
The 57-year-old woman now hopes to restore what remains of life alongside her three grown children and grandchildren in Virginia.
The judge had spent recent weeks reviewing circumstances of the case as Goff remained in the Carroll County jail where she'd been transferred from the prison in May. In his re-sentencing order, Jackson recognized her spotless record as inmate 705617 in the McPherson Women's Unit at Newport.
Goff, with eyes wet from emotion, spoke directly to the judge before he ruled that she'd suffered sufficient punishment and released her effective Thursday with the provision that she not contact a specific list of people that included her former in-laws or commit "jailable offenses" for the next decade.
Carroll County Prosecutor Tony Rogers did not object. The judge and prosecutor each deserve praise for doing what I've believed, over five years of writing about this highly questionable conviction, was clearly the right thing to do in a case lacking a shred of physical evidence.
Goff has steadfastly maintained her innocence, even refusing a 1996 plea bargain that would have given her a 10-year sentence. Jackson determined a trial today, with what is known about flaws in her case, would lead to an acquittal. He cited factors in his decision including inexplicably missing forensic evidence and uncalled witnesses at her trial, adding that any new science-based evidence arising to support her innocence could be viewed as potential for a new trial.
Jackson also noted for the record that both the original judge and prosecutor in Goff's conviction agreed she had served enough time, according to Jane Pucher's detailed and impassioned testimony. Two former jurors, one an alternate during the trial and the other who sat on Goff's later sentencing trial, each told me at the hearing that they never felt there was sufficient evidence or information either to convict her, or sentence her to life.
Gotta say I was surprised when, during his ruling, Jackson unexpectedly looked my way and said he knew I was there and he reads this column, yet was unaccustomed to "seeing his name in the newspaper." Couldn't tell if that was a chastisement or compliment. So I just sat quietly and smiled as laughter spread in the courtroom.
During her brief testimony, Goff used tissues to dab tears as she softly asked Jackson for mercy, saying she is almost 60 years old and all she wanted was to spend her remaining time with her children and grandchildren. Daughter Bridgette and sons Mark and Stephen sat on the front row as they watched their mother's earnest plea.
Among those testifying on Goff's behalf Wednesday were Presbyterian minister and family therapist Rev. Mark Lenneville and Harriet Dudley, who said she's known Goff for many years.
Lenneville spoke of Goff's selfless years in prison where she chose to be a guiding light for many inmates. He also talked about how hard she worked to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees (religious studies) and the abundant trust she'd earned from prison officials who frequently allowed her to work off-site, including helping process local licenses for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. She also was a Bible studies leader who tutored inmates in literacy, worked to train guide dogs in a program to help disabled children, and was chosen as a guide for student groups visiting the prison. She was an exceptionally compassionate inmate, he said.
Dudley called Goff a kind, gentle, trustworthy woman of faith who had never been, nor would she be, a threat to anyone.
I haven't the space to delve into all the previously detailed discrepancies, omissions and contradictions infesting this case and her conviction. As most regular readers likely know, I've strived since 2014 to detail the travesties for one reason: I believe this mother and grandmother never was able to have her fullest defense heard at trial, which would have exonerated her.
I'd never met or spoken with this diminutive woman with salt-and-pepper hair pulled into a ponytail until after the Wednesday hearing. I decided to approach her at the defense table after the ruling. She stood in her orange prisoner's jumpsuit and offered a long hug, softly repeating, "Thank you so much." I replied there was no need, adding I was almost as pleased as she was that she had her family back after so many years.
Then we smiled at each other. I turned and walked out, heading back to Harrison. From over my shoulder came thundering applause from within the courtroom, a rejoicing for Belynda Goff and in appreciation of Jackson's ruling. Her nightmare mercifully was over.
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Mike Masterson is a longtime Arkansas journalist, was editor of three Arkansas dailies and headed the master's journalism program at Ohio State University. Email him at mmasterson@arkansasonline.com.
Editorial on 06/30/2019