Free After 25 Years: A Tale Of Murder And Injustice

[Brewman_Jax]

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/28/150996459/...-injustice

From the article:

Quote:The past few years in Texas have seen a parade of DNA exonerations: more than 40 men so far. The first exonerations were big news, but the type has grown smaller as Texans have watched a dismaying march of exonerees, their wasted years haunting the public conscience.

Yet a case in Williamson County, just north of Austin, is raising the ante. Michael Morton had been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife. He was released six months ago — 25 years after being convicted — when DNA testing proved he was not the killer.

Instead of merely seeking financial compensation, Morton is working to fix the system. His lawyers, including The Innocence Project, want to hold the man who put him behind bars accountable. They also want new laws to make sure Morton's story is never repeated.


...

This is another travesty caused by prosecutorial misconduct. This will stop when these sorry rat-bastards start going to prison. Not fines, not disbarment--PRISON!

[SeattleGirl]

I couldn't agree more, Brewman. They robbed that man of so many years of freedom, they should be imprisoned in the same way as someone who commits armed robbery is. "Here's your hat, good luck" just doesn't cut it.

[jaxx]

This is a terrible injustice. After DNA became available every case should have been checked, but no, they had to fight for their freedom....unless they were killed by the state. I wish Michael Morton and the Innocence Project good luck in stopping the poor ways of some police depts railroading innocent people into jail. And to hold them accountable would be wonderful.

[SeattleGirl]

(04-28-2012 08:37 PM)jaxx Wrote:  This is a terrible injustice. After DNA became available every case should have been checked, but no, they had to fight for their freedom....unless they were killed by the state. I wish Michael Morton and the Innocence Project good luck in stopping the poor ways of some police depts railroading innocent people into jail. And to hold them accountable would be wonderful.

That's what I think too, jaxx. Why some police departments, jails, etc continue to refuse to allow DNA testing when it might prove that an incarcerated person is innocent is just beyond me. I guess it is more important for them to be "right" than it is for them to get it right.

[Brewman_Jax]

(04-28-2012 10:04 PM)SeattleGirl Wrote:  

(04-28-2012 08:37 PM)jaxx Wrote:  This is a terrible injustice. After DNA became available every case should have been checked, but no, they had to fight for their freedom....unless they were killed by the state. I wish Michael Morton and the Innocence Project good luck in stopping the poor ways of some police depts railroading innocent people into jail. And to hold them accountable would be wonderful.

That's what I think too, jaxx. Why some police departments, jails, etc continue to refuse to allow DNA testing when it might prove that an incarcerated person is innocent is just beyond me. I guess it is more important for them to be "right" than it is for them to get it right.

I don't understand why the state is fighting tooth and nail to keep someone that very well may be innocent behind bars. Is it to preserve their precious win-loss record? Sheer arrogance--the state would NEVER convict an innocent individual! Maybe it's the obvious: The state would be held liable for EVERY time they got it wrong.

That needs to happen.