An African American man who spent nearly 40 years
behind bars in the US state of Ohio for a murder he
did not commit will receive $1 million from the
state for his wrongful imprisonment.
On Thursday, an Ohio Court of Claims judge ordered
that just more than $1 million be paid to Ricky
Jackson.
behind bars in the US state of Ohio for a murder he
did not commit will receive $1 million from the
state for his wrongful imprisonment.
On Thursday, an Ohio Court of Claims judge ordered
that just more than $1 million be paid to Ricky
Jackson.
Jackson said he learnt about the payment from a
reporter who had called him on Thursday afternoon
to get his reaction over the court order.
reporter who had called him on Thursday afternoon
to get his reaction over the court order.
“Wow, I didn’t know that,” Jackson said. “Wow
wow wow, that’s fantastic, man. I don’t even know
what to say. This is going to mean so much.”
wow wow, that’s fantastic, man. I don’t even know
what to say. This is going to mean so much.”
Michele Berry, his attorney from the Innocence
Project, said a financial advisor will help Jackson to
handle the money in the wisest way.
After hearing the news of the court order, Berry
became emotional and expressed her appreciation
for all that the innocent black man went through.
Project, said a financial advisor will help Jackson to
handle the money in the wisest way.
After hearing the news of the court order, Berry
became emotional and expressed her appreciation
for all that the innocent black man went through.
“It’s been an honor to work for and with Ricky,” she
said. “He’s probably the wisest person I’ve ever
met.”
said. “He’s probably the wisest person I’ve ever
met.”
In November, Jackson, 57, and Wiley Bridgeman,
60, were both exonerated in a 1975 murder after a
key witness against them, who was 13 years old at
the time, admitted in 2013 that he lied during his
testimony.
60, were both exonerated in a 1975 murder after a
key witness against them, who was 13 years old at
the time, admitted in 2013 that he lied during his
testimony.
Eddie Vernon, now 53, told a minister who visited
him at a hospital in 2013 that he had never actually
witnessed the crime. He said Cleveland police
detectives coerced him into testifying that the men
killed businessman Harry Franks on May 19, 1975.
him at a hospital in 2013 that he had never actually
witnessed the crime. He said Cleveland police
detectives coerced him into testifying that the men
killed businessman Harry Franks on May 19, 1975.
The Ohio Innocence Project, which took up their
case, said Jackson and Bridgeman’s 39 years
imprisonment mark them as the longest-serving
exonerees in US history.
case, said Jackson and Bridgeman’s 39 years
imprisonment mark them as the longest-serving
exonerees in US history.
According to a study released in April, one in every
25 death row inmates in the United States is
innocent. Approximately 3,000 US prisoners are
waiting to be put to death.
25 death row inmates in the United States is
innocent. Approximately 3,000 US prisoners are
waiting to be put to death.
African Americans are also far more likely to be
arrested and imprisoned by police than any other
racial group, according to a recent analysis by USA
TODAY.
arrested and imprisoned by police than any other
racial group, according to a recent analysis by USA
TODAY.
Experts say the dramatic gap in arrest and prison
rates reflects biased policing as well as the vast
economic and educational inequalities that plague
much of the US.
rates reflects biased policing as well as the vast
economic and educational inequalities that plague
much of the US.
http://saharareportersrescue.com/2016/05/05/for-
spending-40-years-in-jail-wrongly-us-court-awards-
african-man-1-million
spending-40-years-in-jail-wrongly-us-court-awards-
african-man-1-million
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