Texan declared innocent after 30 years in prison

[techs]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110104/ap_on_re_us/us_dna_exoneration_texas

Texan declared innocent after 30 years in prison


DALLAS – A Texas man had his conviction overturned Tuesday for a rape and robbery he didn't commit after serving 30 years in prison, more time than any other inmate subsequently exonerated by DNA evidence in his state.

Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, was formally cleared of the aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon conviction that had kept him behind bars from December 1979 until July of 2010. He served 30 years of his 75-year sentence before making parole in July. About a week later, DNA test results came back proving his innocence.

Dupree is the longest-serving inmate cleared by DNA evidence in Texas, which has freed 41 wrongly convicted inmates through DNA since 2001 — more than any other state.




I couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like to spend 30 years in prison for something I didn't do.
I don't know if he's entitled to any money, but I would hope the state of Texas would give him something to get started with life again.

 

[JulesMaximus]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110104/ap_on_re_us/us_dna_exoneration_texas

Texan declared innocent after 30 years in prison


DALLAS – A Texas man had his conviction overturned Tuesday for a rape and robbery he didn't commit after serving 30 years in prison, more time than any other inmate subsequently exonerated by DNA evidence in his state.

Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, was formally cleared of the aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon conviction that had kept him behind bars from December 1979 until July of 2010. He served 30 years of his 75-year sentence before making parole in July. About a week later, DNA test results came back proving his innocence.

Dupree is the longest-serving inmate cleared by DNA evidence in Texas, which has freed 41 wrongly convicted inmates through DNA since 2001 — more than any other state.




I couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like to spend 30 years in prison for something I didn't do.
I don't know if he's entitled to any money, but I would hope the state of Texas would give him something to get started with life again.

I wonder how many they've put to death...

 

[CRXican]

Rape is terrible but it seems to be the crime most often associated with these stories of having the wrong guy in jail for a LONG time. I blame the crappy witnesses. "Yes, that looks like him even though it was dark and my eyes were closed and I was blindfolded, that's the correct black man"

Sounds good 75 years it is! Who needs DNA, ha!

 

[techs]

Rape is terrible but it seems to be the crime most often associated with these stories of having the wrong guy in jail for a LONG time. I blame the crappy witnesses. "Yes, that looks like him even though it was dark and my eyes were closed and I was blindfolded, that's the correct black man"

Yeah.

 

[Vette73]

Rape is terrible but it seems to be the crime most often associated with these stories of having the wrong guy in jail for a LONG time. I blame the crappy witnesses. "Yes, that looks like him even though it was dark and my eyes were closed and I was blindfolded, that's the correct black man"

Sounds good 75 years it is! Who needs DNA, ha!

DA/police usually push a witness more than the witness does.

 

[gophins72]

The DNA testing in Dupree's case also excluded a second defendant, Anthony Massingill, who was subsequently convicted in another sexual assault case and sentenced to life in prison

would suck to be in jail with a name like Massingill.


I read about a similar story a while back in the southwest airline magazine:
http://spiritmag.com/uploads/pdf/features/0910_innocent_man.pdf

the guy got convicted and jailed for 18 years, freed at 40, and also awarded millions for the error. Texas was awarding mega $$ for their mistakes, wonder if this guy also got cash as part of the error.

 

[CRXican]

DA/police usually push a witness more than the witness does.

you mean push them to finger someone, anyone?

I don't disagree, doesn't meant it's right

 

[zokudu]

How does this influence his getting a job/living his life from now on. Do they just discount the time he spent in prison?

 

[Anubis]

DNA testing has been available for over 20 years why the hell did it take this long to clear him

 

[Bateluer]

Technology shock. 1979 vs 2010.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

dont the states make laws that prevent people like this from suing over wrongful convictions? youd think someone would deserve a billion dollars for something like this but in similar cases ive hear of the guy getting like $200,000 from the state

 

[CRXican]

DNA testing has been available for over 20 years why the hell did it take this long to clear him

Interesting question. I guess he knew there was DNA evidence sitting around. If I had nothing to do but sit in a cell for hours a day I'd be writing every damn day trying to get that shit tested so I could GTFO.

 

[Vette73]

DNA testing has been available for over 20 years why the hell did it take this long to clear him

Because DAs/Police hate to be shown how wrong they are. So they fight it tooth and nail and work the courts as most that need DNA testing are to poor to get good lawyers that can fight the DA/Police over it.

 

[TheVrolok]

I can't even imagine would that would be like.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Because DAs/Police hate to be shown how wrong they are. So they fight it tooth and nail and work the courts as most that need DNA testing are to poor to get good lawyers that can fight the DA/Police over it.

yeah i cant imagine courts are very generous to convicted "rapists". "bank robbers" and "murderers"

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I can't even imagine would that would be like.

The first night's the toughest, no doubt about it. They march you in naked as the day you were born, skin burning and half blind from that delousing shit they throw on you, and when they put you in that cell... and those bars slam home... that's when you know it's for real. A whole life blown away in the blink of an eye. Nothing left but all the time in the world to think about it.

 

[techs]

If the police and the DA didn't do anything wrong, like hide evidence or pressure witnesses, I don't think he would have any recourse.
People are convicted of crimes all the time, do jail time, and then evidence comes to light showing their innocence. I don't think you can sue unless you can prove the state did something wrong.

 

[Phokus]

If the police and the DA didn't do anything wrong, like hide evidence or pressure witnesses, I don't think he would have any recourse.
People are convicted of crimes all the time, do jail time, and then evidence comes to light showing their innocence. I don't think you can sue unless you can prove the state did something wrong.

This is Texas. I would bet my life savings that there was some sort of malfeasance from the police or the prosecutors.

 

[highland145]

DA/police usually push a witness more than the witness does.

Had a friend that witnessed a robbery. Police sent him a line up sheet. He picked #2, MAYBE. They asked, "Are you sure it isn't #4?"

Not busting on the police. Just giving an example.

 

[911paramedic]

How does this influence his getting a job/living his life from now on. Do they just discount the time he spent in prison?

"There seems to be a gap in your resume. What have you been doing the last thirty years?"

"Hard time, but I wasn't guilty."

 

[highland145]

"There seems to be a gap in your resume. What have you been doing the last thirty years?"

"Hard time, but I wasn't guilty."

$1M/yr, $30M. Who needs a job?

 

[OBLAMA2009]

$1M/yr, $30M. Who needs a job?

that isnt what happens though, ive read about guys in that situation getting a hundred thousand total

 

[highland145]

that isnt what happens though, ive read about guys in that situation getting a hundred thousand total

Just remembering the Dugard case. They must have SHITTY lawyers. $100K?

 

[Vette73]

Nope, its just Texas. They only paid 450k for soemoen that was in jail for 18years.


http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2006/11/texas-pays-450000-for-wrongful.html

Texas pays $450,000 for wrongful conviction



Local police and county prosecutors make the mistakes, but state taxpayers must foot the bill for wrongful convictions in Texas - $25K for each year an innocent person is incarcerated. The most recent wrongfully convicted Texan to receive compensation, Arthur Mumphrey, from Houston, will receive $450,000 after spending 18 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Depends I guess. I referenced it in another thread, but Timothy Masters was exonerated of murder in Ft. Collins, CO after serving something like 10 years. Massive failures and misconduct on part of the police and prosecution resulted in millions of dollars in payout....rightfully so.

If there wasn't any misconduct, I'd still think he should be able to sue for lost wages or earning capacity or something. It's totally unreasonable to expect someone to just enter the workforce after serving 30 years in prison. You essentially have to reprogram your entire concepts of society, communication and interaction.