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Coalition seeks new trial for Alabama death row inmate, autopsy results on Gulf Shores whale

Alabama death row
EJI
Alabama death row unit

A group of religious leaders, attorneys and others say they'll ask the Alabama Supreme Court for a new trial in the case of a death row inmate.

A coalition including "Law and Order" star Sam Waterston, National Clergy Council President Rev. Rob Schenck and others say they believe a new trial could lead to the exoneration of William Kuenzel.

Kuenzel was convicted in a 1987 murder and robbery in Talladega County and has argued he's innocent for years.

Kuenzel attorney David Kochman and others have said evidence that could have cleared Kuenzel was suppressed until long after his sentencing. They say numerous issues including ineffective counsel and questionable witness testimony led to his conviction.

A stranded melon-headed whale found in Gulf Shores suffered a severe respiratory infection. A-P-R student reporter Nia Craig has more on the research…

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding network now knows why the animal struggled to swim and breathe. Researchers say they had to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of the whale’s death. 

The whale was found October 6th near Surfside Shores condos in Gulf Shores. Beachgoers stabilized the whale until wildlife officials arrived. The whale needed to be euthanized.

Officials say beachgoers should never push stranded animals back into the water but should instead call a 24-hour hotline at 1-877-whale-help.

Number ten Alabama has a full week ahead as they get set for an SEC road game Saturday at number nine Texas A-And-M.

Some controversial video surfaced today following Saturday’s 27-14 win over Arkansas. It apparently shows Razorback’s coach Bret Beilema going out of his way to instigate a penalty on sophomore Cam Robinson.

Coach Nick Saban says he has not seen the video…

“What I did see was Cam got blocked pretty well on the play by one of their players.  In our tape, he got up in and shoved another player in frustration.  That’s basically what I saw and that’s what I assumed the penalty was for and about.  So that’s all I can really comment on.”

The Crimson Tide’s game against the Aggies will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.

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