By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – Bobby Frank Cherry will not get a new trial, at least in the near future. An appeals court Friday rejected his request to have his murder case reviewed. Two years ago, Cherry was convicted of the 1963 bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church. Four girls were killed in that blast, and Cherry is serving four consecutive life sentences. He appealed, saying the 37 years that passed between the bombing and his indictment in 2000 affected his case. But the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals unanimously disagreed. Judge Sue Bell Cobb says there is no proof the state intentionally caused the nearly four decade delay. Cherry says he's innocent, saying he's a political prisoner.