Baltimore brothers wrongfully jailed for 24 years get $3.8m

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Baltimore brothers wrongfully jailed for 24 years get $3.8m

18 June 2020

Two Baltimore brothers who served 24 years in jail for a murder they did not commit have each received $1.9m (£1.5m) compensation from the state.

Eric Simmons and Kenneth "JR" McPherson were released in May 2019 after prosecutors re-examined their cases and found errors by investigators.

It comes amid a national debate in the US over how to reform the police and criminal justice system.

Both men, who are black, had alibis for the 1994 killing.

They were in their early 20s when they were jailed for murdering a 21-year old man in East Baltimore, Maryland.

The Innocence Project, which worked to uncover new evidence in the case, says police pressured a 13-year-old suspect to identify Mr Simmons and Mr McPherson, and threatened the boy with murder charges if he refused.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53098758


Both men were released together in May 2019 (CBS)

[Jeebo]

1. I think I remember this, was it on Death Row Stories?

That series that is narrated by Susan Sarandon.

-- Ron

[catrose]

2. "Errors by investigators?"

That's one way to put it.

[malaise]

3. Money does not return lives that were stolen

I'm so sick of the racism. What the fuck did we do to be so hated.

[Demovictory9]

4. k&r