Man freed after 20 years: Don't just drop charges — clear me

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Man freed after 20 years: Don't just drop charges — clear me

Updated 5:28 pm, Friday, June 24, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) — After 20 years behind bars for a murder he says he didn't commit, Richard Rosario was about to get the charges dropped Friday. Until he said no.

Prosecutors conceded he'd been wrongfully convicted and said they would dismiss the charges because they felt they couldn't retry the 1996 case. But in a highly unusual move, Rosario persuaded a court to leave the case open for more investigation, saying prosecutors should fully exonerate him, not just end the case.

"It's not acceptable. The public should know the truth," said Rosario, who told police early on that 13 people could vouch that he was in Florida when Jorge Collazo, also called George Collazo, was killed on a Bronx street. "It's clear that I'm innocent."

Surprised, Bronx state Supreme Court Justice Robert Torres agreed to leave the case open at least through Aug. 30, over objections from prosecutors who said they had already robustly reinvestigated the killing.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Man-free-after-serving-20-years-asks-judge-to-8323326.php#photo-10442229

[7962]

1. "robustly reinvestigated". yeah, I'm sure.

the guy was 1000 miles away and they STILL put him away? ridiculous

[StevieM]

2. In some states he would still be in jail with the prosecutors insisting that he was guilty

and that bleeding heart liberals were trying to free a killer.

[christx30]

3. Well, he was just a REALLY good shot,

to be able to stand in Florida and shoot someone in New York state.


Yeah, it's really insane how badly this guy got screwed. He deserves nothing less than exoneration. And an apology from everyone involved in his prosecution.

[monmouth4]

4. And a very good attorney so he never has to worry about getting work...

[Feeling the Bern]

5. Sacco and Vanzetti weren't even in Boston when the murders they were execeutred for

were committed.

Our CJ system sucks, doesn't work and needs massive reform from the top down.

[ReRe]

6. I'll go him one better...

... they need to pay him for every year that he served though he was an innocent man. This should go for every single innocent person in the USA who is freed after serving for crimes they never committed. Those were productive years of their lives that they served and they should be recompensed for the mistake of the State and/or Federal Government(s).