Posted on: Friday, March 22, 2002

Ex-'Bow Cherry denied new trial

Advertiser News Services

The Arkansas Supreme Court in Little Rock yesterday rejected a petition to rehear the case of a former NFL defensive back Raphel Cherry, convicted in the strangulation death of his wife.

Cherry, 40, was convicted of first-degree murder in January 2001 and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Jerri Harris Cherry was found dead on a couch at her Jacksonville home Dec. 22, 1998. Prosecutors maintained that Cherry killed his wife in anger because she was pursuing a divorce.

Cherry once played for the University of Hawai'i. A fifth-round pick by the Redskins out of Hawai'i in 1985, he appeared in 42 games with Washington and Detroit and had five interceptions from 1985-88.

The January 2001 conviction was Cherry's second trial. He previously was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, but a circuit judge overturned that conviction after jurors admitted they had violated his orders by talking about the case before deliberations.

Cherry played quarterback for the Rainbows, breaking 22 school records and finishing his career with 5,046 passing yards. In 1983 and 1984, he was chosen as the team's most valuable player. He also played in the 1985 Hula Bowl.