Judge Considers Exonerating Tennessee Man Convicted of 1998 Double Homicide

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Putnam County judge said he will take the next three to four months to review the case of a man serving two life sentences for a double homicide.

In 1999, Greg Lance was convicted of killing Putnam County couple Victor and Alla Kolesnikow and setting their home on fire to destroy the evidence.

Since then, Lance has maintained his innocence and the Tennessee Innocence Project has taken up his case.

On Tuesday, July 2, the Innocence Project presented its case to Judge Don Ash, arguing that someone else named Sam Horn killed the couple, and that DNA evidence suggests Lance did not handle the murder weapon.

As Sam Horn lay dead, his son, Mitchell Horn, told the court he had heard his father talk about the couple’s murder on two occasions.

“Growing up, my dad told me repeatedly, ‘If you ever kill someone, make sure you’re the only person that leaves the scene alive,’ and he repeated that to me multiple times and said it was his number one rule, and he said, ‘Son, I think I messed up this time,’” Mitchell said.

A man who said Sam was like family also testified.

Derrick Helms said he also heard Horn Sr. talk about the possibility of getting away with murder.

“He basically told me he was caught hiding his intentions. You know what I mean? He basically told me what to do because of what I thought I was doing,” Helms recalled.

A state attorney argued that Horn’s name was brought up at the original trial and that his role in the case could have been raised at that time. The attorney also said that Helm and Horn’s testimony was based in part on “hearsay.”

Two forensic scientists who examined evidence in the case also testified Tuesday.

An expert told the judge it was statistically more likely that Lance did not handle the murder weapon.

The judge ordered a transcript of Tuesday’s hearing within 60 days and said he would need another 30 to 45 days to rule. He added that he would write his opinion knowing that lawyers for both sides would likely appeal.