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.
Notice, Texas got it wrong TWICE. He was convicted of murder and expnerated, then tried and convicted for aggravated assault, in the same case.
There was exonerating evidence the prosecution didn’t provide to the defense, which by itself should told the case, that’s literally why the Rust trial against Baldwin was tossed out
what in the effed up double jeopardy is this
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.
Just doesn’t feel right to cheer for this. Poor guy effectively lost his life to the state. Fuck.
