Conviction of Innocent People
Over 130 people have been taken off of the death sentence since 1973 because the court found new evidence that they were wrongly convicted. In only 2003 there were 10 people who were released off of death row. (1) A group of only eighteen people who were convicted and sentenced to death have been proven to be innocent with the use of DNA. These individuals are from eleven states and spent a total amount of 229 years in prison includint 202 years on death row. However it was later proven that they were wrongly convicted for these crimes.(2) In California there has been six individuaks who have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death.(3)
Over 130 people have been taken off of the death sentence since 1973 because the court found new evidence that they were wrongly convicted. In only 2003 there were 10 people who were released off of death row. (1) A group of only eighteen people who were convicted and sentenced to death have been proven to be innocent with the use of DNA. These individuals are from eleven states and spent a total amount of 229 years in prison includint 202 years on death row. However it was later proven that they were wrongly convicted for these crimes.(2) In California there has been six individuaks who have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death.(3)
Verneal Jimerson, Kenneth Adams, Willie Rainge , and Dennis Willians were convicted for the murder of a couple and the rape of the women. In 1978 the four men were said to be seen by a witness at the place where this crime had occurred. The witness, Paula Gray later took back what she said and the charges were dropped. Later in 1985 Gray however took her original statement again and was then convicted of being an accomplice. She then made a deal to be a witness against the four and the four men were convicted. From what was said by Gray Jimerson was sentenced to the death penalty, though he was offered deals many time but refused to testify against his friends. Along with Jimerson Dennis Williams was sentenced to death, while Kenneth Adams was sentenced to seventy-five years and Willie Rainge to life imprisonment
When the case was taken by David Protess, Rob Warden and a group of students at Northewestern they found evidence that was used to prove the innocence of these men and helped to find the individuals behind the crime. In a trial in 1995 DNA evidence and the other evidence was used and Jimerson was released in June 1996.(4)
When the case was taken by David Protess, Rob Warden and a group of students at Northewestern they found evidence that was used to prove the innocence of these men and helped to find the individuals behind the crime. In a trial in 1995 DNA evidence and the other evidence was used and Jimerson was released in June 1996.(4)
Patrick Croy was accused of attempted robbery and the murder of police officer Hittson and sentenced to death. The court had based the conviction on the theory that Croy had intentionally committed a robbery and this caused the death of officer Hittson, and from that Croy was convicted. However in 1985 the conviction and death sentence were overturned by the supreme court finding that the treial had been wrongly instructed which allowed the court to convict Croy of robbery even if he did not intend to steal. Due to the fact that the robbery was the cause of officers Hittson death, that too was overturned and there was a re-trial. With the evidence it was shown that Croy acted in self-defense during the shoot-out and had no intention of killing anyone. Croy was found not guilty and released in 19901. (5)
At the age of 20 Chol Soo Lee was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison which later turned into a sentence to death. Chol nephew K.W. Lee began to look at Chol’s case and created the Sol Lee Defense Committee. This led to finding that there was falsity in the case against Chol. It was in 1979 when Chol was sentence to death row though the court had already vacated the previous conviction because of K.W. Lee’s doing. In 1983, eight years after being placed on death row Chol’s conviction was overturned due to false testimony and was set free.(6)