122nd Inmate Freed From Death Row

[DeclinetoState]

This is from a couple of months ago, and in a different state.

Harold Wilson is the 6th Person Exonerated in Pennsylvania

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/php/uploads/thumb_phpoLk81V_haroldwilson.jpg

More than 16 years after a Pennsylvania jury returned three death sentences against Harold Wilson, new DNA evidence has led to his acquittal. During Wilson's 1989 capital trial, the prosecution used racially discriminatory practices in selecting the jury.

In 1999, Wilson’s death sentence was overturned when a court determined that his defense counsel had failed to investigate and present mitigating evidence during his original trial. A later appeal led to the overturning of his conviction and a new trial because of the race bias in selecting the jury. The court held that at the new trial the death penalty could not be sought. On November 15, 2005, a new jury that did not have to be "death-qualified" and that was properly chosen, acquitted Wilson of all charges. DNA evidence revealed that blood from the crime scene did not come from Wilson or any of the victims, a finding suggesting the involvement of another assailant.

[Beowulf]

Well, the Dude looks like a creep and I'm betting he is one but since DNA is 99.9% conclusive and it says he didn't do this particular crime, how can anyone argue it?

[Republican_Legion]

Well, the Dude looks like a creep and I'm betting he is one but since DNA is 99.9% conclusive and it says he didn't do this particular crime, how can anyone argue it?

I agree, if DNA proves he is innocent he should be free.
I believe its immoral to send an innocent person to death.

[Rink]

If he didnt do it then WHO did?

Someone that killed an innocent person and sent an innocent man to prison, is STILL walking the streets today.

[Un Con Troll Able]

If he didnt do it then WHO did?

Someone that killed an innocent person and sent an innocent man to prison, is STILL walking the streets today.

Well, the article doesn't say anything to lead me to believe that he is actually innocent. It only says his blood wasn't found at the scene. He could still be guilty.

[Republican_Legion]

Someone that killed an innocent person and sent an innocent man to prison, is STILL walking the streets today.

Thats the worse part. Some guilty bastard is out there that did it.

[Incident_command]

DNA evidence revealed that blood from the crime scene did not come from Wilson or any of the victims, a finding suggesting the involvement of another assailant.

This doesn't mean he wasn't involved, only that it wasn't his blood. He may have had help killing the victim. Seems like there should be more to this. Are we to believe this was the only evidence? Also if there was no DNA testing in the first place what role did the blood play in his conviction?
What are the factors race played in this. I'd love to know the whole story.

[DesertFox]

DTS, need a link, old buddy.

IC's right. We're not told enough here to have any chance of judging for ourselves. Dude could be guilty anyway.

The way things have gone the last 10 years, I'm highly suspect of the "racially discriminatory practices" allegation without more information.

[DeclinetoState]

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=412&scid=6

[Melz]

Eww I hate to see that someone has been sitting for a crime they didn't commit, mostly because the person who committed the crime has not been followed up on since then.

Not often that a person innocent of ANY crime is in prison, but he still didn't deserve it of course. Once the person they thought did it is in prison, they stop looking.

I hope they start re-looking now.

[Republican_Legion]

The 100th freed man
No doubt this guy is innocent, second link provides info on the real killer whos DNA matched.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1284211/posts
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/crimprof_blog/2004/11/extreme_makeove.html
On one of those TV make-over shows a while back they had a guy that was known as the 'snaggletooth' killer and was released due to DNA that proved his teeth were not those of the killer. Bite marks were his conviction since his nasty teeth is what got him spotted and arrested for a crime he did not commit DNA was what eventually got him released and the TV show wanted to give him a make-over so no one will make fun of him anymore. He got face lifts, new teeth, etc.

[ConspiracyBuff]

This guy is def inncocent, sucks to be him considering he is still behind bars.
Lloyd Schlup Missouri Conviction 1985 Not Released
Schlup was convicted in 1985 of a murder while in prison. However, a prison videotape shows him to be in the cafeteria around the time of the murder at a different location. One prison guard has testified that the tape, along with his observation of Schlup just before he went to the cafeteria, prove he could not have been present at the murder. Twenty other witnesses also swear that he was not at the scene of the crime. The U.S. Supreme Court gave Schlup the opportunity for a hearing concerning his new evidence, despite the fact that he had exhausted his ordinary appeals. Following the hearing in federal District Court in December 1995, the court held that no reasonable juror would have found Schlup guilty. On May 2, 1996, Schlup was granted a writ of habeas corpus on the ground that his original trial attorney failed to adequately represent him. The State of Missouri unsuccessfully attempted to apply the new federal habeas corpus law which was signed on April 24, 1996 to Schlup's case. Under the new law, Schlup probably would have been executed. On the second day of his re-trial, Mar. 23, 1999, Schlup agreed to plead guilty to second degree murder to avoid the danger of another death sentence. Schlup's appellate lawyer, Sean O'Brien, said he remained convinced of Schlup's innocence.
Inncocent people on death row is a very sad thing, unfortunately our system is not flawless. Those exonerated ought to be entitled to some monetary gain, they have nothing and lost everything when they are released.

[DeclinetoState]

Unfortunately, some guilty people (and their lawyers) have abused the appeals process, etc., causing a reaction among many that may lead to possibly innocent people being incarcerated or even executed.