Case in NC: From 13 years on death row to *all* charges dropped

Lex

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Sat May-03-08 11:05 PM
Original message

Case in NC: From 13 years on death row to *all* charges dropped

I'm SICK that he would've been put to death in my name as a North Carolinian. SICK. This has to stop.

Former death-row inmate set free

RALEIGH, N.C. � A man who spent 13 years on death row in North Carolina was released from prison Friday after prosecutors decided to drop the charges against him.

Levon "Bo" Jones was sentenced to death in 1993 for the slaying of Leamon Grady, a bootlegger who was robbed and shot in his home in 1987.

"I'm innocent, that's what I've got to say," Jones told reporters as he walked out of the Duplin County Jail Friday afternoon.

After meeting his grandson for the first time, he said he was "a little bit angry" about being on death row so long, but he just wanted to go home.

"It's wonderful that he's out. He's innocent, and I'm glad he's free," said his daughter, Evette Jones.

A federal judge overturned the conviction in 2006, declaring poor attorney performance had violated Jones' rights. Duplin County District Attorney Dewey Hudson planned to retry Jones on May 12, but decided to drop charges after a key witness recanted her story.

more ----> http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2824402/

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PeaceNikki

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Sat May-03-08 11:11 PM
Response to Original message

1. I quite literally just finished watching this film on Netflix:

Edited on Sat May-03-08 11:13 PM by PeaceNikki

After Innocence
http://www.netflix.com/WatchNowMovie/After_Innocence
With the emergence of DNA evidence, the justice system is seeing a wave of reversed criminal convictions. But what happens to those who are set free, sometimes decades after being imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit? Jessica Sanders takes a close look at some of these people in this gripping documentary that's both a harsh criticism of the current judicial system and a touching look at those profoundly affected by it.

It's shocking and awful. :(

Several stories like Mr. Jones. It goes into some detail about The Innocence Project and Barry Scheck. http://www.innocenceproject.org/.

The amazing and awful thing is that they are mostly entitled to NO compensation and NO resources or healthcare or education or job placement.

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RaleighNCDUer

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Sat May-03-08 11:17 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. And you can't help but wonder about all those who, in the pre-DNA

days, went to the chair insisting on their innocence.

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PeaceNikki

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Sun May-04-08 12:00 AM
Response to Reply #2

5. They said faulty eye-witness testimony is responsible for like 80% or wrongful convictions.

People's eyes can deceive them. One story in the film was a rape victim who picked the wrong guy in a lineup. He was exonerated via DNA 11 years later. They are now close friends and speak together about their experiences.

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Lex

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Sun May-04-08 08:39 AM
Response to Reply #5

8. But jury members believe eye-witness testimony

most of all and it *is* so unreliable.

Here's a good illustration of that point: http://www.dothetest.co.uk/

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SeattleGirl

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Sun May-04-08 12:13 AM
Response to Reply #1

6. I watched "After Innocense a couple of weeks ago.

And I agree -- it's shocking and awful (that innocent people are locked up, in many cases for years). How can one truly get their life back after that?

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malaise

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Sun May-04-08 12:17 PM
Response to Reply #6

11. What's even more shocking is that the real mass

murderers aren't even charged.

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bluestateguy

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Sat May-03-08 11:36 PM
Response to Original message

3. Was Mike Nifong the prosecutor?

The state of NC must compensate him for life. He should not have to clean toilets for the rest of his life to make a living.

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Lex

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Sat May-03-08 11:39 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. Hell no. And the defendant wasn't a rich white guy.

Surprise, surprise.

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Richard Steele

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Sun May-04-08 12:15 AM
Response to Reply #4

7. Yeah, there's a shock-NOT. K&R

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lonestarnot

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Sun May-04-08 08:51 AM
Response to Original message

9. It will NEVER stop as long as it is profitable to keep people in the pen.

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struggle4progress

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Sun May-04-08 12:13 PM
Response to Original message

10. "Jones became the eighth North Carolina man spared execution after charges against him were dropped"

May 3, 2008, 12:48AM
North Carolina frees 8th death row inmate
Charges dropped over problems with evidence and defense attorneys
By MANDY LOCKE
McClatchy-Tribune http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5750742.html

"Houston, we have a problem"

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QueenOfCalifornia

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Sun May-04-08 12:47 PM
Response to Original message

12. I have had the argument for years

over the death penalty.

This case is exactly why I am AGAINST it.

It never fails that whoever I am arguing the point with says something like: "what if your daughter or son were raped and murdered, wouldn't you want the death penalty THEN?"

I try to separate my personal emotions from the argument because of course I would want to kill the SOB who would hurt a child or anyone else. I would want to react just like any animal and get me some revenge... That does not make using the death penalty right or just.

The poor are executed in this country. So are the insane, the retarded and more dark skinned people are killed here. If you can afford to pay for a dream team defense you can play golf in Florida and get away with murder.

The death penalty is barbaric. Plain and simple.

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DarkTirade

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Sun May-04-08 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #12

13. Turn that argument around on 'em and say "What if your son or daughter was wrongly convicted?"

Edited on Sun May-04-08 03:04 PM by DarkTirade

Until we can go back in time and watch the crime itself happen to be absolutely 100% sure, I can't support a death penalty. It's a bit too permanent to leave room for any mistakes.

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