Jailed man becomes own lawyer, has murder conviction overturned

[Resolute 14]

Pretty cool story. I would imagine Will Smith will star in the inevitable movie.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...554448476.html

[Codes]

That's a remarkable story.

[boogerz]

That is incredible

Better feel good story than "Golden radio voice man"

[burn_this_city]

I'd love to see a malicious prosecutor like that thrown in jail.

[Beerfest]

Makes you wonder how many other innocent people are still serving time in jail right now.

The sad thing is you know there has to be some.

[valo403]

Great find, Vecchione should be strung up for his actions. Pure scum, I hope I run across him at some point, although I don't do any criminal work.

[Resolute 14]

Give the man a call and see if you can help out on that $60 million lawsuit!

[CrusaderPi]

Remember Wheat Kings?

"A nation whispers we always knew that he'd go free. They add you can't be fond of living in the past..."

[T@T]

I wonder if he really did it though? his case seems to be all about corruption which is nothing new for cops/DA who are usually about 99% right that they got the right man.

If he is the 1% and is innocent I hope he gets every penny and becomes a successfull lawyer. Smart guy in any case.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

Makes you wonder how many other innocent people are still serving time in jail right now.

The sad thing is you know there has to be some.

At least in Canada, we know we're not killing the wrongfully convicted.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

Makes you wonder how many other innocent people are still serving time in jail right now.

The sad thing is you know there has to be some.

a lot more than some, its about 10,000 people per year in the US

which is the sole reason i'm against the death penalty. in principle i agree with it, murderers should forfeit their lives when they take one. but in practice there have been far too many innocent people on death row that have been exonerated by DNA evidence over the last decade, and who knows how many more weren't given that chance and have been executed because they were the target of an overzealous prosecution

[theonlywhiteout]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Remember Wheat Kings?

"A nation whispers we always knew that he'd go free. They add you can't be fond of living in the past..."

Cause if you are then there is no way you are going to laaaaast

what a great song.

good for this guy getting off.

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

which is the sole reason i'm against the death penalty. in principle i agree with it, murderers should forfeit their lives when they take one. but in practice there have been far too many innocent people on death row that have been exonerated by DNA evidence over the last decade, and who knows how many more weren't given that chance and have been executed because they were the target of an overzealous prosecution

I would be for the death penalty in murder cases where there is no doubt whatsoever. A smoking gun in hand if you will.

But cases that rely on witness testimony, etc....no way.

[jammies]

Resolute fix the title - it's LAWYERS not LAYWERS. I know you're better than that.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

Makes you wonder how many other innocent people are still serving time in jail right now.

The sad thing is you know there has to be some.

Here's another one, I remember this case known as the West Memphis 3

Three men who were convicted of killing three Cub Scouts 16 years ago will have their cases reviewed in a court hearing to see whether they should be granted a new trial, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

"These young men were convicted of a brutal crime someone else committed, and we hope the state moves quickly to overturn their convictions and seek to prosecute those responsible."

Testing of the DNA in question was conducted between December 2005 and September 2007, according to the Arkansas Supreme Court. The material included hair from a ligature used to bind Moore and a hair recovered from a tree stump near where the bodies were found, court documents said.
The hair found in the ligature was consistent with Branch's stepfather, Terry Hobbs, while the hair found on the tree stump was consistent with the DNA of a friend of Hobbs', according to the documents. Police have never considered Hobbs a suspect, and Hobbs maintains that he had nothing to do with the murders.
Echols received a death sentence for the slayings, while Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life in prison.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/04/...ree/index.html

[troutman]

Where do you think fredr123 got his start?

[steve954]

Being put imprisoned for a crime I didn't commit is one of my worst fears.
I'd likely become a serial killer when I get out; being so pissed off at the world.

Disclaimer: Figuratively speaking.

[VladtheImpaler]

No indication that he is actually innocent, just that he was wrongfully convicted...

[troutman]

Vlad makes a good point. Very very few accused are truly "innocent", but many get off on technicalities.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by troutman

Vlad makes a good point. Very very few accused are truly "innocent", but many get off on technicalities.

When the "technicalities" consist of gross misconduct on the behalf of the District Attorney I'm more than okay with people who may have actually commited a crime walking free.