We see the results of another wrongfully convicted man free due to DNA testing. The only problem is, how do you give back 20 years of someone's life? Literally, Kenneth Ireland has spent half his life locked up for something he didn't do.
Once again, I wish someone could explain exactly how, when something like this is exposed, it is claimed that law enforcement does not take rape seriously?
Man freed after 20 years in jail for something he didn't do.
“You can take the handcuffs off,” Judge Richard Damiani said. And with that, a man who has been in jail for 21 years — and was supposed to spend decades more behind bars — walked away a free man.
DNA set him free.
The dramatic release took place Wednesday morning in Connecticut Superior Court on Church Street.
Kenneth Ireland went to jail in 1988, at the age of 20, convicted of raping and killing a woman named Barbara Pelkey of Wallingford. The sentence: 50 years.
His case was taken up by the Connecticut Innocence Project, which uses DNA evidence from crimes to prove that people have been wrongfully accused. They did that in this case to buttress Ireland’s longstanding claim that someone else, not he, committed Pelkey’s rape and murder.
The Project petitioned for a new trial, and the petition was granted.
Damiani ordered Ireland released Wednesday on a promise to appear. He technically faces a new trial, though it’s unclear whether one will take place. His next court appearance is Aug. 19.
The newly freed Ireland walked out of the courthouse (pictured in blue shirt with his back to the camera) with his Innocence Project lawyers and his family. He thanked the lawyers, and kept hugging his family.
East Haven State Rep. Mike Lawlor, co-chair of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, immediately issued the following statement:
“This is yet another Connecticut example of an innocent person having spent two decades in prison for a very serious crime while an actual rapist and murderer has been roaming free since 1986. This is not acceptable.
“The legislature, working with the Advisory Commission on Wrongful Convictions, must determine whether any state laws need to change and whether the law enforcement community is using best practices in the investigation of cases in order to avoid wrongful arrests and convictions.
“Under a 2008 law, Mr. Ireland is eligible to apply for compensation for his wrongful conviction with the state claims commissioner, who will make recommendations for compensation to the legislature. I hope this can be done in time for the 2010 legislative session, which convenes in February.”
Link:
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/08/you_can_take_th.php
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6 comments:
He should be paid a million dollars for each year of his life that they stole. Now let's all hold our breath waiting for state legislatures to pass the laws that would have made this impossible.
Archivist wrote:
"Once again, I wish someone could explain exactly how, when something like this is exposed, it is claimed that law enforcement does not take rape seriously?"
I think we all know the answer to this question.
" “This is yet another Connecticut example of an innocent person having spent two decades in prison for a very serious crime while an actual rapist and murderer has been roaming free since 1986. This is not acceptable."
Is this the first case of this sort of thing happening? No yet, the system still works this way and has been allowed to work this way for too long.
" This is not acceptable"
No, it is not, nor should it have ever been acceptable.
“The legislature, working with the Advisory Commission on Wrongful Convictions, must determine whether any state laws need to change and whether the law enforcement community is using best practices in the investigation of cases in order to avoid wrongful arrests and convictions."
I would say the answer is quite clear. The laws need to be changed. It should be no secret that the laws regarding any violence against women (real or imagined) were made so at the vehement insistences and demands of feminists. I still hear feminists, both male and female, cry for tougher laws needed to make it easier to convict the guilty, harsher punishments and, longer sentences. They spoke and rattled their sabres so, the authorites listened and complied, while too many men remained silent and ignored the hell that rapidly approached them. It is no secret to me that feminists both, love and hate DNA. When it is used to convict a real rapist, they praise it and sing it's virtues. When it is used to release or exonerate an innocent man (or men/boy/boys), they raise hell and condemn it.
The dance known as " The feminist two step"
There is no amount of money or apologizing that will ever make up for or undo what this man was forced to endure. Those who destroyed this man's life will never be able to make it up to him. Just think of what he lost and missed out on while wrongfully imprisoned. To call this tragic is an extreme understatement. I commend the Innocence project for their tireless and honorable work.
Thank god for DNA evidence. Half his life is gone because of this all because they didnt look into it more.. GOOD JOB COPS IN FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON
The shame is they cannot give him back the life they took nor, can they ever erase from his mind the fear and hell he went through for twenty one years. Everyone imagine having a little over two decades of your life taken away because you could not prove your innocence.I hope this man finds this site and recounts his experiences to us. It would be very helpful.
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