Kevin Strickland freed after judge vacates conviction in 1978 triple murders

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.kansascity.com/news/article256019917.html

A judge on Tuesday granted Jackson County prosecutors’ motion to exonerate Kevin Strickland in a 1978 triple murder and ordered his immediate release, confirming that Strickland suffered one of the longest wrongful convictions in U.S. history.

Judge James Welsh, a retired appeals court judge, granted the motion filed by Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker — the first of its kind under a new Missouri law — that sought to exonerate Strickland, now 62.

Since he was sentenced to prison in June 1979, Strickland has spent more than 42 years and 4 months behind bars — or 15,487 days.

(snip)

Now, Strickland will not receive a dime from Missouri. The state’s compensation law is narrow and only allows payments to innocent people exonerated through a specific DNA testing statute, which was not be the case for Strickland, or most exonerees across the U.S. Strickland’s attorneys set up an online fundraiser, which has raised about $37,000, to help him pay for basic necessities.

[leftieNanner]

1. This was a big story for Rachel

She will be pleased that he has been freed.

Even with all of the evidence showing that he was falsely imprisoned, Asshole Governor Parsons would not release him.

Great news!

[Torchlight]

2. A reason why I try to keep my blood lust in check when I hear about

what may otherwise seem to me to be a cut-and-dried arrest of a 'violent person who should never be on the streets.'

More than 40 years of his life stolen, and the state responds with "oops! my bad."

[napi21]

3. No amount of money can ever give him back those 42 years! I hope his attorneys find a way to

get him at least enough money to live for a year until he can make a life on his own. Missouri is responsible for this horrible mistake & should HAVE to compensate him!!!

[gratuitous]

4. The legislature could vote to compensate Strickland

There's nothing stopping them from passing a law specifically for Strickland, compensating him for the 42 years the state stole from him. Well, a minimum level of humanity and compassion would be required, and the Missouri Lege may not have that.