The Commercial Appeal

20/20 to air Noura Jackson interview

- KATIE FRETLAND

Noura Jackson will appear on 20/20 in a segment to air Friday night, according to ABC.

Jackson was released from prison last August and has maintained she’s innocent in the death of her mother, Jennifer Jackson.

The Tennessee Supreme Court threw out Noura Jackson’s second-degree murder conviction and she entered an Alford plea on a reduced charge of voluntary manslaught­er in 2015.

In a news release, ABC says “Did a Memphis teen murder her mother or was she falsely accused? Daughters killing their mothers account for less than 1 percent of all homicides, but that is what prosecutor­s claim took place when Jennifer Jackson was stabbed to death in her own home. Eleven years after being sent to prison for her mother’s murder, Noura Jackson is now free. In an exclusive postprison network interview, Noura — who maintains her innocence — tells ABC News’ John Quinones about finding her mother’s body, her trial and life now.”

ABC also says Quinones “confronts” Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich about constituti­onal errors in the trial. During a closing argument in Jackson’s trial Weirich said loudly, “Just tell us where you were! That’s all we are asking, Noura!”

Weirich’s comment and the prosecutio­n’s failure to disclose a piece of evidence to the defense until after the trial prompted the state Supreme Court to rule that Jackson’s conviction should be vacated.

Weirich was charged by the Tennessee Board of Profession­al Responsibi­lity with profession­al misconduct. Days before a hearing scheduled this week, Weirich announced she accepted a private reprimand, ending her disciplina­ry case. A second prosecutor in the case, Steve Jones, was cleared by a panel of lawyers.

Jackson and relatives came to a confidenti­al compromise in the case of her mother’s $1.5 million estate, according to court records filed in November.

The 20/20 segment airs Friday at 9 p.m. Central Time on ABC.

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