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Texas inmate is exonerated after spending nearly 34 years in prison for wrongful conviction (apnews.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/27939300

A Texas man who spent 34 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of aggravated assault was exonerated Thursday by a Dallas County judge who ruled that he is actually innocent.

The judge approved a motion by the Dallas County District Attorney’s office to dismiss the case against Benjamin Spencer, 59, who was initially convicted in 1987 of murder in the carjacking and death of Jeffrey Young.

“This day has been a long time coming. I am relieved and humbled to help correct this injustice,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot.

Spencer, who has maintained his innocence, saw his 1987 conviction later overturned. He was then tried again and convicted and sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery of Young.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Not double jeopardy because they're different charges, technically. He wasn't tried for murder twice.

The real question I have is if he was exonerated from the first murder conviction, how did they manage to convince a jury a second time with that information. The only way I can imagine is somehow preventing the evidence that exonerated him the first time, and the fact he was exonerated, from being used in court. Which to be honest sounds like something the Texas kangaroo courts would do. Texas does lead the way with wrongful convictions, there has to be a reason.