World News
Photos: Three men wrongly jailed for life, set free after serving 36 years in prison
Three Baltimore men who were wrongly imprisoned for 36 years in Maryland, United States have been set free after a review of the murder case they were prosecuted for.
The three men identified as Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart, were reportedly teenagers when they were sentenced to life in prison in 1984. They were accused of being responsible for the murder of 14-year-old DeWitt Duckett who was shot in the neck on his way to class at a Baltimore junior high school and also stealing his Georgetown University jacket.
They were released from custody on Monday November 25, hours after a judge cleared their convictions and prosecutors dropped the charges.
“These three men were convicted, as children, because of police and prosecutorial misconduct,” Baltimore state attorney Marilyn Mosby said after the men were released.
In a statement, her office said “detectives targeted the three men, all 16-year-old black boys, using coaching and coercion of other teenage witnesses to make their case”.
Speaking at a press conference after they were released, Watkins said:
“This should have never happened. Somebody’s got to pay for this,” he said. “You can’t just leave this like this. This fight is not over.”
Stewart on the other hand said “When I got the information, I cried, and I didn’t know how to stop crying until a friend of mine came to me and hugged me and said, ‘Man your journey is coming to an end,’ but it is not, my journey is just beginning, because I got to learn how to live right now.”
It was learnt the case was reopened earlier this year by the office of Baltimore City State’s Attorney Mosby after Chestnut sent a letter to the Conviction Integrity Unit. The Washington Post reported Chestnut included exculpatory evidence he uncovered last year.
During examinations the Baltimore prosecutor’s office found errors in the investigation and the new review concluded that a different student, who was 18 at the time of the crime was the shooter.
The new suspect who was shot dead in 2002 was seen fleeing from the scene and dumping a gun as police arrived at Harlem Park Junior High School, but authorities at the time focused their investigation on the trio.
“Everyone involved in this case – school officials, police, prosecutors, jurors, the media, and the community – rushed to judgment and allowed their tunnel vision to obscure obvious problems with the evidence,” said Shawn Armbrust, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, which represents Watkins.
Armbrust added that “this case should be a lesson to everyone that the search for quick answers can lead to tragic results”.
See photos below.
World News
Kid Cudi cancels tour after breaking foot at Coachella
Kid Cudi has been forced to cancel his tour after breaking his foot at Coachella over the weekend. During the fest’s Weekend Two on Sunday night, the rapper went to the hospital with a broken foot after jumping off the stage at the Sahara Tent. (more…)
World News
The Un Certain Regard Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes
The Canadian actor, director, screenwriter and producer Xavier Dolan will be the President of the Un Certain Regard Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes. He will be joined by French-Senegalese screenwriter and director Maïmouna Doucouré, Moroccan director, screenwriter and producer Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic, director, and writer Todd McCarthy. They will be in charge of awarding prizes for the Un Certain Regard section, which showcases art and discovery films by young auteurs.
This year, 18 films have been selected, including 8 first films. The 2023 Un Certain Regard top prize went to director Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex.
When the light breaks by Rúnar Rúnarsson will open the Un Certain Regard section on Wednesday May 15, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
World News
Kanye West reportedly planning to launch porn studio
World News
Additions to the selection of the 77th Festival de Cannes
|
|
|
|
|
|
World News
Eminem celebrates 16 years of sobriety
World News
Coachella 2024: DJ Snake (Hip Hop Set) and TroyBoi Play Surprise Sets at Do LaB Stage
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Buzz1 week ago
My wife sent her nudes to her Dubai lover while I was on my sick bed – Erico speaks on divorce
- Buzz6 days ago
Afronita’s mum was against me managing Endurance Grand alongside her daughter – Quables
- Buzz12 hours ago
I underestimated the extent of my influence – Serwaa Amihere apologizes
- Buzz1 week ago
Stonebwoy performs ‘Activate’ with Davido at sold-out Madison Square Garden show
- People & Lifestyle4 days ago
REPORT: Dulcie Boateng’s Porials Pitch leads to arrests over ‘unregistered products’
- Buzz7 days ago
Ghana’s New Train from Poland Crashes During Test Run
- Buzz1 week ago
Family of accident victims refuses to press charges against Funny Face despite pressure
- Gossip5 days ago
WATCH: Irene Logan sings ‘At Last’ as she dances with her husband at their wedding reception
- Buzz2 days ago
Kofi Kinaata Credits Samini’s High Grade Family for Musical Breakthrough
- Buzz1 week ago
I was battling Kidney Disease – Erico on Absence from music scene
- Buzz7 days ago
“Life has humbled me so much” – Mercy Johnson
- World News1 day ago
Kanye West reportedly planning to launch porn studio