Man incarcerated for 46 years did watercolor paintings to pass the days. 46 years!!

[IcyPeas]

The story is from 2019. The tweet below is an updated version. His artwork is amazing.

In 1971, Richard Phillips was arrested for a murder we now know he did not commit. To pass the time while incarcerated, he painted. And when he was exonerated in 2018, he sold his art to survive. Now, he has a new house, car and a dog.

Link to tweet

[hlthe2b]

1. Incredibly talented. The injustice does leave one speechless.

I hope someone has taken the highest quality photographs of his collection--at the very least.

[cilla4progress]

2. Can you even fathom

being incarcerated for a crime you did not commit?

Happens to way too many Black men in America!

[shrike3]

4. Wow. What a talent.

And such an admirable lack of bitterness.

[NJCher]

22. That is one more

Beautiful aspect of this story: he didn’t allow it to ruin his life. In fact, he thrived

I really enjoyed looking at his art. He is one fantastic artist.

[secondwind]

5. It took 46 years to find him not guilty??

Can’t we do BETTER THAN THIS? What a horror…

[Ms. Toad]

7. The constitution requires due process before the government takes your liberty.

It doesn't promise that you will not be incarcerated if you are innocent.

And from there the system is stacked against the ability of due process to actually distinguish the guilty from the innocent. If you are poor you can't afford an attorney. You are entitled to one, but the resources the state makes available to public defenders is vastly different than it makes available to the prosecution. So unless you have money, you are in a David and Goliath conflict.

If you lose, you are entitled to an appeal "of right," including representation. BUT you can't introduce new evidence during the appeal, with very limited exceptions. So if your public defender doesn't have the time/resources available to find the evidence (here, for example a neutral alibi witness who placed him asleep, 10 miles away from the crime minutes after it happened, you can't bring that evidence in at the appeal).

Habeas (where some new evidence is admissible) has been severely limited for years in order to create finality in court decisions.

So if you don't win a trial or on appeal, it is very unlikely that you will be able to even get a court to hear evidence of your actual innocence. Largely, with a limited exception for capital offenses, you just serve your sentence and try to move on with life. We, as a country, have decided that it is appropriate for a few innocent people to be punished in exchange for finality in sentences (rather than appeal after appeal after appeal through the entire sentence).

As odd as it seems, the way our legal system is structured, Phillips was one of the lucky ones. They found a way to get the new evidence in and exonerated him.

[secondwind]

9. Thank you for explaining !!!

[Deuxcents]

6. I watched this on CBS earlier

Every Friday, On The Road has a story and I try to catch it. The stories bring tears, smiles, chills n hope to name a few emotions...feel good stories that make me believe in humanity again.

[Sogo]

8. Love this!

I'm so glad he used his time so well and is now well compensated for the injustice he endured....

[NJCher]

23. yes

He has a beautiful home, car, and you can tell he loves that dog!

He obviously has been quite a success in selling his paintings.

On edit, per below: I am glad the state had to pay.

[malaise]

10. Give the man his effin' money

He was wrongfully imprisoned.
Sure he is a great artist but he was robbed of his life.
Prettifying this state criminality is painful to me.

[KewlKat]

16. See link below

https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=6416

He did finally receive some compensation.

[orleans]

19. i was glad to read that part

that's a lot of years in a prison, but at least ...

In May 2019, the state of Michigan awarded Phillips $1,565,479 in compensation.

[SunSeeker]

20. In the video, he said that money was tied up in court. nt

[malaise]

27. Thanks

[Sogo]

31. WOW....Talk about the wheels of justice turning slowly....

That is tragically slow!

[uponit7771]

25. +1,

[GenThePerservering]

11. I'd like to see a prominent gallery exhibition of his art

somewhere everyone can see it. His work is incredible - the one of the guy lining up the pool shot!

[SonofDonald]

18. The one with the Father with child laying on his chest

Such a picture of peace and love

How do you paint that unless that’s what’s in your heart?

I find it amazing that this travesty of Justice thrust on him didn’t take that away from him.

A happy ending at long last

🎨

[barbtries]

12. amazing work.

that was interesting. i watch a court channel on youtube and Gabi (like gabby, not gawbi) Silver appears fairly regularly in the courtroom (Judge Kenneth King if you're interested). she's a defense lawyer in Detroit for like 35 years and she's the only one of the lawyers I see on the channel whose name i don't forget! She's a character in her own right. Every time she makes an objection, her tone of voice is offended and somewhat shocked. I don't know if she was instrumental in getting Philips exonerated but apparently she represents him now.

[Joinfortmill]

13. What a good soul. Hope he sells a ton of paintings.

[orleans]

21. he was awarded over one million in compensation from state of michigan

so i'm hoping he doesn't have to sell anymore of his paintings

In May 2019, the state of Michigan awarded Phillips $1,565,479 in compensation.

link provided by duer upthread
https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=6416

[Bayard]

14. K&R

[KewlKat]

15. Looks like he did finally receive some compensation

In May 2019, the state of Michigan awarded Phillips $1,565,479 in compensation.

If you read far enough down the page you'll see the above. Quite a story.

[LiberalLovinLug]

24. Okay, that explains his house purchase

As an artist myself, I found it hard to believe he could buy a house from a sale of his art works alone, no matter how interesting, and well done. Its not a lucrative business. It would be nice if society valued the idea of original art produced by individual artists more. Anyone can buy a plastic led light version of Van Goghs Starry Night for quarter the cost of some unknown artists original work even if they like it. Original art, with such an original story, from so many collected years, that Phillips produced work out of, SHOULD buy him a house on its own. But life isn't fair in a lot of ways. I'm stoked he was compensated though at least. He seems to be taking it all in positively. Good luck to him!

[panader0]

17. I love his work. I wonder if I could afford one.

[KewlKat]

28. that was my thought when I saw his work...

[Judi Lynn]

26. Unbearably wonderful presence in this world. Thank you, so much, IcyPeas. N/T

[KewlKat]

29. For those wanting to buy some of his work...I found this Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/richardphillipsartgallery/


However nothing has been posted since 2021. The link to his website is dead...

He was doing cards which I would have loved!

[KewlKat]

30. Strokes of Freedom: A Richard Phillips Art Exhibit thru 24 Mar 2023 in Detroit, MI

Details CLOSING RECEPTION

Date: March 24
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Event Category: Kayrod Gallery

Venue

Ellen Kayrod Gallery
4750 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48201 United States
Phone: [phone]

https://hannan.org/event/strokes-of-freedom-closing-reception/