Former Governor Supports Barry Beach

Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer is adding his name to the list of people who support Barry Beach's efforts to be released from prison for a 1979 murder he says he didn't commit.

The Great Falls Tribune reports Schweitzer wrote a letter to the state Board of Pardons and Parole on Thursday saying he didn't believe Beach needed to be incarcerated any longer.

Schweitzer argued there is no physical evidence tying Beach to the murder of Kimberly Nees of Poplar and there are questions about the validity of his confession. Beach is serving a 100-year sentence without the possibility of parole.

Last week, an attorney for Beach submitted an application to the board asking it to recommend that Gov. Steve Bullock eliminate the parole restriction so Beach can have a parole hearing.