David at South Bay Correctional Facility
David at South Bay Correctional Facility

To Whom It May Concern:

We’ve come together as a committee of family and friends to plead for clemency for David Hulme. We are asking for anyone with authority in these matters to pause long enough to parse the details of his case, consider his genuine remorse and the immense support he has from staff and please grant his request for clemency.

Before asking for your consideration, we sought opinions from numerous defense attorneys and former prosecutors. They confirmed what we already knew; the capital one murder conviction for his role in the event which took his wife Beverly’s life was a significant stretch. Still, David is completely remorseful. He has never denied that it was he who took the gun into the house after discovering a man in bed with his wife who refused to leave. Having no record of prior issues with law enforcement and never having used a gun (it was registered to his wife) for anything other than target practice, David’s only intent that night was to motivate his wife’s new friend to leave the premises. Unfortunately, a struggle ensued with the man and Beverly was wounded. David immediately called 911.

David’s account of what happened (see Case Facts) includes attribution to the trial transcript. We also can make the full transcript available. In his own words he takes full responsibility for the foolishness of bringing the gun into the home as a bad situation was unfolding. But, a respected emergency responder gave a sworn statement at the scene that it was the wife’s lover who admitted shooting her (accidentally). But the police never checked that man’s hands for residue and, shockingly, there were no fingerprints on the gun according to law enforcement.

David and his first wife Sherry are still very close friends (1992)
David and his first wife Sherry (left) are still very close friends (1992)

David agreed to a public defender which he felt was prudent because of his innocence and the admission from the other man that he accidentally shot Beverly. But, incredibly, the public defender advised him to pass on a plea deal to a lesser charge. She told him she’d secure even a lighter sentence based on the facts. None of us knew she had never even tried a murder case of this gravity.

One blunder after another in a day-and-a-half trial and David would spend the next 22 years in prison. Today he is 65. If David is allowed to go free, he will return to his boyhood home and assume the family landscaping business being run by his older brother who has Parkinson’s disease. He will have a job and an extended group of family and friends that will see to it that he reenters society as the old David. He will once again be a solid businessman and involved in civic organizations.

A young relative practicing for his learner's permit
A young relative practicing for his learner's permit

Before we close, we would like to share a little about ourselves. We are all professional people and none of us have experience with prison or pleading for mercy. In fact, none of us have any in-depth experience with our legal system. To a person, we were probably naïve to the reality that justice can be relative. At a trial, sometimes facts can be lost through bad representation and truth obfuscated through confusion and hidden agendas. Still, we all are proud of this country. With the rule of law as its foundation, it is one of the fairest places on earth.

So, as we share information about David, do not think of us as “anti-prison” or that we have an agenda other than making a reasoned and emphatic appeal for his freedom.

That’s all we wish to accomplish.

Yours Sincerely,

The Committee for Clemency for David Hulme

Carol Cookerly - Atlanta, GA
Tom Cookerly - Bethesda, MD
Kathryn Long - Biltmore Lake, NC
Rick Hulme - Asheville, NC
Susan Schachner - Asheville, NC
Sharon Trammel - Asheville, NC

Wayne Caldwell - Candler, NC
Joe & Tinker Guillet - Charleston, SC
David Smith - Charlotte, NC
Mark Smith - Charlotte, NC
Paige Smith - Mooresville, NC
Vance Carlisle - Asheville, NC

Craig & April Carlisle - Charlotte, NC
Scott & Kelly Carlisle - Charlotte, NC
Grant Carlisle - Washington D.C.
Nancy Smith - Charlotte, NC
Milam & Sarah Wall - Mills River, NC
Ron & Susan Watkins - Asheville, NC

Dick and Olive Hulme with sons Rick (oldest) and David (1964)

Dick and Olive Hulme with sons Rick (oldest) and David (1964)

Guys being guys (1995)
Guys being guys (1995)
Guys being guys again
Guys being guys again
Mother Olive with David (left) and brother Rick
Mother Olive with David (left) and brother Rick
The boys having fun! (1957)
The boys having fun! (1957)