Martin Tankleff's Case is Dropped By District Attorney

Last week we posted to our blog about Martin Tankleff who was accused of killing his parents in 1988. He was released on a $1,000,000.00 bail bond and reported to court this morning only to find out that the Suffolk County District Attorney will officially drop the new indictment charging him with the murder of his parents on January 18, 2008.

Martin Tankleff was convicted in 1990 for the murders and spent over 17 years in prison. An appeals court overturned the verdict several weeks ago because of new evidence uncovered by private investigators.

Thomas Spota, Suffolk County's district attorney, said the double jeopardy laws prevent him from retrying Martin Tankleff, but will ask Governor Eliot Spitzer to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Jerry Steureman, the business partner of Seymour Tankleff at the time of the murders.

Martin Tankleff Released on $1 Million Bail Bond

Martin Tankleff was freed after serving 17 years in prison and posting a $1 million bail bond this past week. Tankleff was sentenced in 1990 for the killing of his parents, Seymour Tankleff and Arlene Tankleff in their Belle Terre house in 1988.

An appeal court last Friday overturned the 1990 conviction based on new evidence that suggests someone else might have killed the couple.

Martin Tankleff's defense lawyers have insisted for years that Seymour Tankleff's business partner, Jerry Steuerman, was behind the murders. Steuerman has always denied any involvement in the murders, but subsequently moved to California while Seymour Tankleff was still in a coma.

Prosecutors of Suffolk County are reportedly pursuing new murder charges against Martin Tankleff and disagree with the appeal courts recent decision. Meanwhile, Martin Tankleff's attorneys are continuing to collect new information on the case.