Wrongly convicted man is set free [after serving 23 years]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 07/20/2006 | William C. Lhotka

[Hardastarboard]

While I do believe the death penalty is an appropriate penalty for some crimes, I've long since come to regard it as just another government program gone wrong.

[MeanWestTexan]

You were not the only one. The reporter writes terribly.

[Blackirish]

A few years ago there was a case where a prisoner was caught breaking out and had hard time added on.

Well he was acquitted of the original crime but they made him serve time for trying to escape.

Wadda rip.

[EDINVA]

"does he get 'time served' if by chance he happens to get convicted of a new crime?"

by the time he finishes suing and collecting for false arrest/imprisonment, etc., he'll have enough to buy the town and not need to burlarize any time soon.

[stuartcr]

I guess nothing is perfect.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The rapist smoked cigs with the victim (an event that is stragely common).

Before or after?

[stompk]

"36,000 for each year wrongly imprisoned?! ... I guess on the bright side, home boy here almost has a cool mil in his pocket for his troubles.... though thats not really compensation."

a sad amount really. interest would help significantly, but unfortunately they'll prob tax him like it was lottery winnings. . .

[weezel]

Thats true but..... As someone else demonstated clearly earlier on this thread, eyeball witnesses are not nearly as reliable as it seems they should be. Johnny Briscoe may be innocent, I hope he is, since he has been busted out. My point was though, DNA cant prove innocence.

[Element187]

a sad amount really. interest would help significantly, but unfortunately they'll prob tax him like it was lottery winnings. . .

if he's smart he will put in an IRA and invest the crap out of it.