NEW CITY, N.Y. — The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court has denied Amer Zada’s latest request to appeal his decades-old murder conviction, marking the ninth failed attempt to reverse or vacate the case, Rockland County prosecutors announced.
The ruling, issued July 1, comes after a Rockland County judge earlier this year found no merit in Zada’s motion to vacate his conviction for the 1980 murder of 17-year-old Shirley Smith in a Nyack parking lot. He was also convicted of attempted sodomy and aggravated sexual abuse in connection with the attack.
At trial, Zada was represented by high-profile defense attorney William Kunstler. Despite numerous post-conviction filings over the years, courts have repeatedly upheld the jury’s verdict.
“By this decision, the Appellate Division recognizes that Zada’s unsubstantiated claims do not warrant further review,” Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II said.
Judge Kevin F. Russo previously ruled that Zada failed to present any new evidence that would justify overturning the conviction, which has remained intact for more than four decades.
Walsh commended Executive Assistant District Attorney James Dolan for his continued work in defending the case during the appellate process.
Nearly 45 years after the crime, Amer Zada’s conviction stands firm following yet another failed appeal.
