All articles tagged with #exoneration
Emel McDowell served over 19 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit, based on a letter from the actual gunman that was ignored during his trial. After a long legal fight and eventual exoneration in 2023, he received a settlement and is now pursuing justice for wrongful imprisonment and forced labor, while aiming to rebuild his life and advocate for others.
Emel McDowell served 19 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit, based on a letter from the actual gunman that was ignored. His conviction was finally vacated in 2023 after the gunman's confession, leading to a wrongful conviction settlement, but he continues to fight for justice and recognition, reflecting on lost opportunities and ongoing struggles faced by exonerees.
The Louisiana State Police released new video footage of a fatal crash involving LSU player Kyren Lacy, whose lawyer claims the evidence exonerates him, contradicting initial reports that linked him directly to the crash that resulted in a veteran's death. The police maintain their investigation is ongoing and supported by facts, while Lacy's lawyer argues he was far behind the crash site, challenging the authorities' narrative.
The article discusses the review of chat transcripts related to Tom Hayes following his exoneration, highlighting ongoing interest in his case and its implications for financial crime investigations.
A man wrongfully imprisoned for 32 years, including a decade on death row, is suing former law enforcement officials in Maryland, alleging misconduct and withholding evidence that led to his wrongful conviction for double murders in 1981. He was pardoned and compensated after DNA evidence proved his innocence, highlighting issues of prosecutorial misconduct and flawed forensic science.
Crystal Mangum, who accused three Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006, has admitted she lied about the incident. Speaking from prison, where she is serving time for a separate murder conviction, Mangum expressed remorse and asked for forgiveness from the men she falsely accused. The case had significant repercussions, including the cancellation of Duke's lacrosse season and the disbarment of the district attorney involved. The players were exonerated in 2007, and settlements were reached with Duke University and the city of Durham.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has charged Erik Sparre with the 1985 murders of Harold and Thelma Swain at a church in South Georgia, after Dennis Perry, the original suspect, was exonerated in 2021. Perry's conviction was overturned following an investigation that revealed withheld evidence and a false alibi for Sparre, who is now linked to the crime scene through DNA evidence. The case, which had remained unresolved for decades, was revisited due to efforts by the Georgia Innocence Project and investigative journalism.
Amanda Knox is facing a slander case in an Italian court, stemming from statements she made during the investigation of her British roommate's murder in 2007. Despite being exonerated in 2015, doubts about her role persist, particularly in Italy. The slander conviction was overturned last November, but a new trial is ongoing. Knox, now 36, has rebuilt her life in the U.S., advocating for criminal justice reform and producing media content. The trial will continue on June 5.
Charles Rice, who had been serving a 30- to 60-year sentence for a 2011 shooting in Philadelphia, was cleared of all charges after spending about a dozen years in prison. The decision came after officials acknowledged weak evidence and ineffective assistance from his original lawyer. The District Attorney's Office stated that it would not meet the burden of proof for the charges, effectively exonerating Mr. Rice.
C.J. Rice, who was incarcerated for over a dozen years for a 2011 shooting he insists he did not commit, has been officially declared innocent by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. After a habeas petition and a judge's ruling, all charges against Rice have been dropped, and his defense counsel is now pursuing the expungement of his criminal record. The case highlighted issues of ineffective counsel, unreliable eyewitnesses, and a poor police investigation, leading to Rice's wrongful conviction.
Prosecutors have dropped the case against C.J. Rice, a South Philadelphia man who was convicted of attempted murder in 2013. This decision comes after a federal court ordered his release or retrial, citing unlawful conviction. The case gained national attention after a cover story in The Atlantic by CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who highlighted the incompetence of Rice's initial defense. Rice's release brings an end to a 12-year ordeal, during which he was incarcerated despite lack of physical evidence linking him to the crime.
During the pandemic, Jessica Jacobs, inspired by true crime shows, reached out to lawyer Ellen Eggers to help investigate wrongful conviction cases. They worked on the case of Jofama Coleman, who was wrongfully convicted of being the getaway driver in a shooting in South Central Los Angeles. Coleman, who had spent years in prison studying his case, shared his story online out of despair. With their efforts, Coleman and another man, Abel Soto, who was also wrongfully convicted in the same case, were eventually exonerated and released from prison.
After spending nearly 30 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Daniel Gwynn was exonerated and freed by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, which dropped all charges against him. Gwynn's case is among dozens that the District Attorney has sought to revisit, and his exoneration highlights the impact of inexact and corrupt policing and prosecution. Gwynn's wrongful conviction was based on coerced testimony and a confession obtained under duress, and key evidence about an alternate suspect was withheld from him. Throughout his imprisonment, Gwynn turned to painting as a way to survive and express the injustice he faced.
The family of Leonard Allan Cure, an exonerated Georgia man fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy, has filed a $16 million federal lawsuit, claiming excessive force. Cure, who spent 16 years wrongfully convicted, was killed during a traffic stop. The lawsuit names the deputy and the sheriff, alleging failure to control deputies with a propensity for violence. Body camera footage shows an altercation leading to the shooting. The deputy's attorney claims self-defense, while the investigation is ongoing.
The family of Leonard Cure, who was killed by a Georgia sheriff's deputy three years after being exonerated and freed from prison, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking $16 million in damages. The lawsuit alleges that the deputy violated Cure's Fourth Amendment rights during a traffic stop, and holds the sheriff responsible for overlooking the deputy's history of excessive force. Cure, wrongfully incarcerated for armed robbery, was shot by the deputy during a traffic stop near the Georgia-Florida border. The family believes his time behind bars likely played a role in the deadly altercation, and they seek justice for his unnecessary death.