Audio By Carbonatix
A man in the US state of Texas has had his robbery conviction overturned after serving 30 years in jail - longer than anyone in Texas cleared by DNA.
Cornelius Dupree Jr was jailed from 1979 to 2010 as part of a 75-year sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
The 51-year-old was freed on parole in July 2010. DNA test results proved his innocence roughly one week later.
A judge has now officially overturned Mr Dupree's conviction.
"It's a joy to be free again," Mr Dupree said outside the Dallas County courtroom.
Mr Dupree told the CNN network he had "mixed emotions" about the hearing considering how long he had been in jail.
"I must admit there is a bit of anger but there is also joy, and the joy overrides the anger," he added.
False conviction
Mr Dupree was charged in 1979 with being one of two men who raped and robbed a 26-year-old woman.
He received a 75-year sentence for robbery but was never tried on the rape charge.
Mr Dupree and Anthony Massingill, who was also convicted for the crime, were identified by the victim following the event.
Massingill, who is also serving time for a separate rape charge, is expected to have his conviction related to the 1979 crime cleared as well, according to the Innocence Project, a public policy organisation.
Mr Dupree served more years in prison than anyone who has been freed by DNA evidence in Texas.
The state has exonerated 41 wrongly convicted inmates through the use of DNA since 2001 - more than any other US state.
Only two other individuals cleared by DNA evidence anywhere in the US have spent more time in prison, the Innocence Project said.
One man in the state of Florida spent 35 years in prison, while another inmate spent 31 years in a Tennessee jail.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
CSIR warns Ghana’s soil health is deteriorating, calls for urgent national action
1 minute -
Two feared swept away after River Agyei overflows Kasoa–Domeabra road
5 minutes -
Tony Elumelu appointed chairman of Seplat Energy
18 minutes -
Education Minister raises alarm over indiscipline in SHSs, announces national reform conference
20 minutes -
Lom Ahlijah advocates tech-based monitoring in schools after assault case
24 minutes -
UTAG threatens nationwide strike over delay in book and research allowance rate
32 minutes -
Boundary Commission urges border residents to protect boundary pillars and support national security
34 minutes -
Ghana to grow at 5.0% GDP in 2026, but faces huge investment financing gap – AfDB
36 minutes -
Deputy AG, 14 CSOs appear at Supreme Court for hearing on challenge to OSP’s prosecutorial powers
41 minutes -
Minority MPs meet Ghana High Commissioner to Canada to discuss diaspora welfare and bilateral relations
50 minutes -
GNAT threatens WASSCE boycott over detained Nyinahin SHS teacher
57 minutes -
Free SHS: Education Minister hails end of school food shortages
1 hour -
NLA Director-General calls for a concerted effort in fight against illegal gambling
1 hour -
74% of returned Ghanaians had overstayed visas – South Africa’s Int’l Relations Minister
1 hour -
Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute joins WHO-backed Global Clinical Trials Forum
1 hour