Innocent Man Released From Prison After 34 Years

[SheHateMe]

Prosecutors botched the case knowing this man was innocent and took 34 years of his life....shame.


The court did not consider his release until the sister of the witness came forward (again) after finding Register's name in a prison database and realizing that he has served 34 years for a crime he did not commit.

LOS ANGELES -- LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles man who spent 34 years behind bars for a decades-old killing was freed from jail Friday after his conviction was overturned.

Kash Delano Register, 53, walked out of the Twin Towers downtown jail at about 4:30 p.m. and was greeted by family members and attorneys.

"I'm just in a numb feeling right now," Register told reporters. "You know, it just hasn't really set in yet. I know it's real, but it just hasn't truly set in yet. It's a beautiful feeling, though."

Register was convicted of killing Jack Sasson, 78, in April 1979 and sentenced to 27 years to life in prison. He always maintained his innocence.

Superior Court Judge Katherine Mader threw out the conviction on Thursday, ruling that prosecutors used false testimony at trial and failed to disclose exculpatory evidence. Prosecutors said they would decide by next month whether to appeal the decision or retry him.

Register was convicted mainly on alleged eyewitness testimony. None of the seven fingerprints found on Sasson's car matched Register's, and police never recovered the murder weapon.

Register's girlfriend said he was with her at the time of the shooting but prosecutors relied on the testimony of Brenda Anderson, who identified Register as the gunman.

Two of Anderson's sisters said their sibling lied about seeing Register running away from the crime scene.

Sheila Vanderkam said she and Sharon Anderson tried to tell police in 1979 that their sister lied, but a detective placed his finger over his mouth, indicating they should keep silent.

More here

Should he sue?

 

[Dman8777]

He served 34 years of a 27 year sentence? I thought most people got out earlier then their minimum sentence...

 

[Doppel]

State should throw money at him.

 

[EagleKeeper]

You wonder why the other witnesses never talked to the defense counsel?

If they felt that something was wrong and the police would not listen; there were other avenues open. they refused to use them.

 

[Jhhnn]

You wonder why the other witnesses never talked to the defense counsel?

If they felt that something was wrong and the police would not listen; there were other avenues open. they refused to use them.

Yeh, blame anybody but the perps, the cops & prosecutors.

 

[Incorruptible]

Anderson, the detective, the prosecutors and judge are all scumbags. Every single person responsible needs to be locked up for life for what they did.

 

[EagleKeeper]

You wonder why the other witnesses never talked to the defense counsel?

If they felt that something was wrong and the police would not listen; there were other avenues open. they refused to use them.

Yeh, blame anybody but the perps, the cops & prosecutors.

We have one side of the story;

The fact that the people that claim he was innocent, did not put forth the effort to help should make one wonder how much of their current story is 5 minutes of fame.

 

[blackangst1]

He served 34 years of a 27 year sentence? I thought most people got out earlier then their minimum sentence...

27 years to life

 

[Jhhnn]

We have one side of the story;

The fact that the people that claim he was innocent, did not put forth the effort to help should make one wonder how much of their current story is 5 minutes of fame.

When confronted with your own authoritarian apologist bullshit, just dig in, huh?

Cops have an obligation to collect as much evidence as they can. Prosecutors have a obligation to reveal exculpatory evidence to the defense. Clearly, the judge's ruling came out in light of the fact that those things were not done.

Due process matters. Those who enforce the rules must live by them. Right, wrong or indifferent, the authorities decided to pin the murder on Register, and that they'd forget the rules to do so.

 

[EagleKeeper]

When confronted with your own authoritarian apologist bullshit, just dig in, huh?

Cops have an obligation to collect as much evidence as they can. Prosecutors have a obligation to reveal exculpatory evidence to the defense. Clearly, the judge's ruling came out in light of the fact that those things were not done.

Due process matters. Those who enforce the rules must live by them. Right, wrong or indifferent, the authorities decided to pin the murder on Register, and that they'd forget the rules to do so.

I am not defending what the police and prosecutor office did - they were wrong.

However, the issue could have been exposed had those others gone to the defense counsel when they were blocked by the police.

I am asking why did they not do so?

 

[trenchfoot]

I am not defending what the police and prosecutor office did - they were wrong.

However, the issue could have been exposed had those others gone to the defense counsel when they were blocked by the police.

I am asking why did they not do so?

I think because in their eyes, those who stood in defense of the accused knew "the system" was rigged, the fix was in, and that you can't fight "the system". For if they did, they'd get in a lot of trouble from "the system" that is already suspect.

It's common knowledge that "the system", when threatened, will protect itself with all means available in order to ensure its survival.

It seems as though enough time had passed so as to wash clean the hands that perpetrated that misfire of justice, so it was safe to do so.

Question is though, how does one put a value on having a huge chunk of one's productive lifespan taken away from them when it's impossible to give it back to them?

 

[SheHateMe]

Question is though, how does one put a value on having a huge chunk of one's productive lifespan taken away from them when it's impossible to give it back to them?

I don't think you can even put a value on ones life. His youth is gone. Who knows the horrors he endured while in prison. There is nothing in this world that can make amends for something like that.

I hope this woman who lied on him has suffered in mental anguish all these years knowing that she is a liar that took someone's youth away from them.

 

[Doppel]

I don't think you can even put a value on ones life. His youth is gone. Who knows the horrors he endured while in prison. There is nothing in this world that can make amends for something like that.

I hope this woman who lied on him has suffered in mental anguish all these years knowing that she is a liar that took someone's youth away from them.

And she should go to prison for minimum of 27 years. At this point the guy should be given a decent stipend until the day he dies. However, he may be so damaged now that who knows what quality of life he can ever have.

 

[TreVader]

State should throw money at him.

They should, but good luck getting them to do it.



The US justice system is set up so when somebody is falsely accused and convicted it is almost impossible to hold anybody responsible and seek damages. There are thousands of people who go through this (are ruled not guilty, aquitted, etc) and none of them get their time and money back. I't just "oops"

 

[ch33zw1z]

Monetary compensation barely covers what this guy has lost. He should get to live the rest of his life without worry. Pay the man, he shouldn't have to sue.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Wah...the system is rigged? I thought government was sacrosanct and more government is the only solution.

 

[Dari]

Sickening.

 

[xBiffx]

So what happened to the real killer that was responsible and may have been walking the streets the last 34 years?

 

[bshole]

I am not defending what the police and prosecutor office did ?

Um.... yes you were. That is your schtick.

So what happened to the real killer that was responsible and may have been walking the streets the last 34 years?

Probably posting on AnandTech.....

 

[cubby1223]

You wonder why the other witnesses never talked to the defense counsel?

If they felt that something was wrong and the police would not listen; there were other avenues open. they refused to use them.

We have one side of the story;

The fact that the people that claim he was innocent, did not put forth the effort to help should make one wonder how much of their current story is 5 minutes of fame.

I have to disagree. These things happened a lot here in Chicago, where I know a bit more about its history. Police when investigating a crime often looked around, spotted the nearest black man, and arrested and wrongfully convicted him.

Article suggests those who knew the primary witness was lying, were also not the cleanest of citizens, they probably feared prosecution for other things if they opposed the police & detectives. And I don't know their relationship, but if they were not friends or family of the convicted, you just don't have that same drive to put your own livelihood at risk for that other person.

And you also have to take into account the question of whether the defense council even gave a damn about the person they were assigned to defend. The one time I was on a jury, when we had to go back and form a decision we were all kind of dumbfounded by the lack of interest either lawyer had in the trial, it was like "we have to form the right decision based on the lawyer's arguments, but neither lawyer made a good argument all trial long, how do we figure out what is right?" Lawyers are there for the paycheck and little more.

 

[Brovane]

He served 34 years of a 27 year sentence? I thought most people got out earlier then their minimum sentence...

It was 27 to life and when he would come up for a parole hearing he would proclaim his innocence to the Parole board. The parole board job wasn't to determine guild or innocence it was to determine if he was rehabilitated so since he was obviously not accepting the guild of his crime he committed he was denied parole. Took a lot of courage on his part to continue to maintain his innocence over all those years.

 

[Theb]

It was 27 to life and when he would come up for a parole hearing he would proclaim his innocence to the Parole board. The parole board job wasn't to determine guild or innocence it was to determine if he was rehabilitated so since he was obviously not accepting the guild of his crime he committed he was denied parole. Took a lot of courage on his part to continue to maintain his innocence over all those years.

Yep. It's pretty crazy. He probably could've been out 20 years earlier if he would've just lied to the parole board.

 

[SheHateMe]

Yep. It's pretty crazy. He probably could've been out 20 years earlier if he would've just lied to the parole board.

And his life would have still been ruined.

A convicted murderer being released into the world, small chance of being gainfully employed...whatever dreams and aspirations he had..crushed and now impossible.

He is now release, his record probably expunged and he will most likely be compensated handsomely for his troubles. I'd go on a long vacation to reflect on how crappy our justice system can be and how a lie can change someone's life forever.

 

[CrackRabbit]

State should throw money at him.

What you did there, I see it...

I do agree with the sentiment though.

 

[JockoJohnson]

So what happened to the real killer that was responsible and may have been walking the streets the last 34 years?

He's working with OJ Simpson on a book?