Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh, II, announced on Wednesday that Rockland County Court Judge Kevin F. Russo has denied a motion by convicted murderer Amer Zada to vacate his 1980 conviction in the brutal killing of 17-year-old Shirley Smith.
The ruling, issued on March 25, 2025, marks the eighth time Zada has attempted to overturn or vacate his conviction. In the original case, Zada was found guilty of murdering Smith in a Village of Nyack parking lot.
Zada was defended at trial by the late William Kunstler, a prominent civil rights attorney known for representing controversial clients.
In his latest motion, Zada argued that certain documents were withheld from him prior to the trial. However, Judge Russo found the claim to be speculative, noting that Zada provided no direct evidence that he had never received the materials.
“The court found that Zada had failed to adequately establish this speculative claim,” said DA Walsh. “I commend Executive Assistant District Attorney James Dolan for his dedication and professionalism throughout these proceedings.”
The court further determined that, even if the documents in question had been withheld, they held little significance and were not exculpatory under the law. Additionally, any inconsistencies raised in the current motion were deemed minor and had already been addressed during the original trial by Kunstler.
Ultimately, Judge Russo concluded that Zada presented no new or compelling grounds to justify vacating the conviction.
