May 22, 2002: A jury convicts Bobby Frank Cherry of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing of 1963

Thursday 22 May 2008

On May 22, 2002, a Birmingham Alabama jury found Bobby Frank Cherry guilty of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, which killed four African-American girls and injured more than 20 other people. He was scheduled to be tried at the same time as fellow defendant Thomas Blanton. However, Cherry delayed his trial by claiming his poor health would prevent him from assisting in his own defense. Blanton was convicted, and Cherry was ultimately found to be mentally competent to stand trial. He denied involvement in the bombing as well as affiliation with the KKK but was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.