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More DNA Exoneration: But Forced to Wait An Extra Day

Discussion in 'Alley of Dangerous Angles' started by Chandos the Red, Jul 30, 2010.

  1. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

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    Remove all ads!
    A story of a wrongful conviction:

    Why Friday? I guess he was upset, so he had to wait.

    I agree with his family. Only in Texas.


    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38470186
     
    Chandos the Red, Jul 30, 2010
    #1
  2. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    He can be happy he wasn't sentenced to death since the verdict would fave been swiftly executed. At the time of his exoneration he would have been dead, but qualify for a posthumous pardon.

    ---------- Added 8 hours, 8 minutes and 46 seconds later... ----------

    My impression is that the Texan authorities were simply taking the knucklehead's way out: They waited.

    They couldn't just pull him out of his cell. Sending in a team for cell extraction is usually only used on violent and resistant prisoners, and consequently is an application of overwhelming force. A man getting taserd or bruised for being irate about spending 27 years in jail as an innocent ... isn't quite appropriate. And since they just couldn't whack him quiet to be able to process him for his release, they kept him a little longer so he could cool down and they wouldn't have to whack him silly for being uppity. Genius!

    After spending 27 years in jail as an innocent, I think the man was entitled swearing.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2010
    Ragusa, Jul 30, 2010
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  3. The Great Snook Gems: 31/31
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    If he has been in jail for 27 years, I wonder what his sentence was? Not to belittle rape, but that seems like a really long time.
     
    The Great Snook, Jul 30, 2010
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  4. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    Last edited: Jul 30, 2010
    Ragusa, Jul 30, 2010
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  5. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Not to disagree with this particular case, but how does the lack of DNA evidence automatically mean innocence? It is quite possible to not leave any DNA evidence -- lack of DNA present does not mean the person did not participate in the rape (gang rape in this case). Sure, I could see if there was a lone assailant who obviously left DNA you could prove innocence, but some rapes have no DNA left behind (condom was used).
     
    T2Bruno, Jul 30, 2010
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  6. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

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    His total sentence was 75 years. I agree - that seems like an exceptionally long time. At 18, he couldn't have had much of a record as an adult.

    I agree. However, such is not the case here. If I were a juror, the presence of a person(s) DNA who was not the accused would be enough to give me reasonable doubt. They found DNA of four other men, and in her original statement she was abducted by two men, and taken to another area where she was assulted with two other men involved. Logically, if there were four men, and you have four DNA samples, none of which are Green's, he's not the guy who did it.

    Also, from Ragusa's link, the lawyer said "we got the bad guys". Not only did the DNA get Green off the hook, the DNA evidence matched others who already had DNA on file (and thus already had criminal records). However, the statute of limitations has expired on this case and so none of the four will ever be charged with the crime.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2010
    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot, Jul 30, 2010
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  7. LKD Gems: 31/31
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    Oh, man, that's horrid. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'd like to learn more about the case, of course, but the bottom line is that I think the guy deserves some serious compensation. Will he get any?
     
    LKD, Jul 30, 2010
    #7
  8. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

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    Also from Rgausa's link - he has a hearing scheduled. Prior people who were wrongfully convicted in Texas have received compensation of $80,000 per year spent behind bars. That would put him in line for a $2,160,000 settlement.
     
    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot, Jul 30, 2010
    #8
  9. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Texas is setting the standard for compensation with the highest rate of any state (or country for that matter). Hopefully the man can rebuild his life.
     
    T2Bruno, Jul 30, 2010
    #9
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