Alabama man off death row after 28 years to jailers: "you will answer to God"

[TheIrishman]

Alabama man off death row after 28 years to jailers: "you will answer to God"

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/04/alabama-death-row-anthony-ray-hilton

<< Anthony Ray Hinton, 58, spent half his life on Alabama's death row, sentenced to die for two 1985 murders that for decades he insisted he did not commit. Over 28 years, the outside world changed while Hinton spent his days largely in a 5ft by 8ft prison cell. Children grew up. His mother died. His hair turned gray. Inmates he knew were escorted off to the electric chair or the lethal-injection gurney. He was set free on Friday after new ballistics tests contradicted the only evidence – an analysis of crime-scene bullets – that connected Hinton to the slayings.

As he left the jail, Hinton said he would pray for the victims' families as he has done for the past 30 years. They have suffered a "miscarriage of justice" as well, he said. He had less kind words for those involved in his conviction.

"When you think you are high and mighty and you are above the law, you don't have to answer to nobody. But I got news for them, everybody who played a part in sending me to death row, you will answer to God", Hinton said.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, Hinton is the 152nd person exonerated from death row since 1973 and the sixth in Alabama.

"They had every intention of executing me for something I didn't do", Hinton said outside the Jefferson County jail in Birmingham. >>

[toddtervy]

Alabama man off death row after 28 years to jailers: "you will answer to God"

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/04/alabama-death-row-anthony-ray-hilton

<< Anthony Ray Hinton, 58, spent half his life on Alabama's death row, sentenced to die for two 1985 murders that for decades he insisted he did not commit. Over 28 years, the outside world changed while Hinton spent his days largely in a 5ft by 8ft prison cell. Children grew up. His mother died. His hair turned gray. Inmates he knew were escorted off to the electric chair or the lethal-injection gurney. He was set free on Friday after new ballistics tests contradicted the only evidence – an analysis of crime-scene bullets – that connected Hinton to the slayings.

As he left the jail, Hinton said he would pray for the victims' families as he has done for the past 30 years. They have suffered a "miscarriage of justice" as well, he said. He had less kind words for those involved in his conviction.

"When you think you are high and mighty and you are above the law, you don't have to answer to nobody. But I got news for them, everybody who played a part in sending me to death row, you will answer to God", Hinton said.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, Hinton is the 152nd person exonerated from death row since 1973 and the sixth in Alabama.

"They had every intention of executing me for something I didn't do", Hinton said outside the Jefferson County jail in Birmingham. >>

 

Just goes to show the level of incompetence of the justice system.  Perhaps the prosecutors, judges, etc. should be the ones in prison.

[--Encrypted--]

Just goes to show the level of incompetence of the justice system.  Perhaps the prosecutors, judges, etc. should be the ones in prison.

seems like they're not at fault on this one though. apparently Hinton's attorney hired a subpar ballistic expert, thinking that he had only $1000 to hire any..

[abyrnes81]

And we named it "justice" there is not any justice, it is only a couple of bounce and stupid people (check the case reported by the OP).

[toddtervy]

And we named it "justice" there is not any justice, it is only a couple of bounce and stupid people (check the case reported by the OP).

I'm not sure who's stupider, the politicians, the judges and prosecutors, everyone else that makes up the government, or the average american citizen.  It's a sad close race between  stupid trash.

[waterpile]

The innocent gets to jail while the true perpetrator runs freely in society.
 

[sickhouse]

Well, at least they didn't execute him? That's always something... But sucks to be him big time!

[protokol]

The main reason I oppose capital punishment is that it's impossible for the justice system to be infallible. Even if just 1 person was exonerated from death row, that should be enough to change the system, let alone 152 people. I reckon the majority of people in favour of the death penalty are clueless about how the justice system actually works.

I feel bad for the guy, granted his life was spared, but he's spent most of his adult life in a cell and will probably find it hard to integrate back into society. I hope he does OK... 

[Whitehouse]

"When you think you are high and mighty and you are above the law, you don't have to answer to nobody. But I got news for them, everybody who played a part in sending me to death row, you will answer to God", Hinton said.

Too bad for him god doesn't exist so there's no justice there, but I don't understand how the US can still have a death penalty after all these mistakes (though morally it's not right any way). I often wonder how many innocent people have been murdered by the state. Does anyone know if people falsely imprisoned get any compensation at all? If so, how much do they get?

[Beliathon]

GOD = EGO

[jaysabi]

"When you think you are high and mighty and you are above the law, you don't have to answer to nobody. But I got news for them, everybody who played a part in sending me to death row, you will answer to God", Hinton said.

Too bad for him god doesn't exist so there's no justice there, but I don't understand how the US can still have a death penalty after all these mistakes (though morally it's not right any way). I often wonder how many innocent people have been murdered by the state. Does anyone know if people falsely imprisoned get any compensation at all? If so, how much do they get?

I'm sure there will be a settlement, there usually is in such instances, and it varies based on the details of every situation. Not that money can make up for losing 28 years of your life.

[Aggressor66]

I wonder how many black Americans have been executed for crimes they did not commit? We're told that in March, 111 Americans were killed by the Police, and apparently no police have been held responsible. There is something terribly wrong with America's "Justice" system.

[Whitehouse]

"When you think you are high and mighty and you are above the law, you don't have to answer to nobody. But I got news for them, everybody who played a part in sending me to death row, you will answer to God", Hinton said.

Too bad for him god doesn't exist so there's no justice there, but I don't understand how the US can still have a death penalty after all these mistakes (though morally it's not right any way). I often wonder how many innocent people have been murdered by the state. Does anyone know if people falsely imprisoned get any compensation at all? If so, how much do they get?

I'm sure there will be a settlement, there usually is in such instances, and it varies based on the details of every situation. Not that money can make up for losing 28 years of your life.

I agree. It really is a horrifying miscarriage of justice that could never be adequately repaid to him but I think a very substantial sum in the several millions would be a good start. I think time is priceless and you can never get it back so anyone who is falsely imprisoned for such a long time should be substantially compensated. I can't imagine the psychological damage of being falsely imprisoned not to mention being on death row must be like.

[panju1]

As he left the jail, Hinton said he would pray for the victims' families as he has done for the past 30 years. They have suffered a "miscarriage of justice" as well, he said.

That is a very poignant thing to say. Even when you have been jailed for 28 years, you feel compassion for the families of the victims.