Woman behind bars 17 years walks free after judge says she's innocent

[n2doc]

woman convicted of murder and imprisoned for 17 years walked out of a Torrance courthouse Friday after a judge called her life sentence “a failure of the criminal justice system” and ordered her release.


Susan Mellen, 59, was embraced by her three children who had waited more than eight hours after the morning hearing for the prison detainer to be lifted.

"We're going to have a new beginning," she told reporters at a news conference where she was flanked by her children and other supporters.

Mellen credited her religious faith with helping her as she served a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. She said she inked the bottom of her prison-issued sneakers with the word "Freedom" but did not feel anger about her ordeal.

more
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-woman-behind-bars-walks-free-20141010-story.html#page=1

[DirkGently]

1. Convicted solely on the word of a "pathological liar."

Nice justice system we have here.

Jesus.

[ZombieHorde]

3. We have a punishment system. nt

[daleanime]

6. For profit....

punishment system.

[ZombieHorde]

7. Yes. Thank you for that addition. nt

[Initech]

9. For profit prisons are the real "pathological liars" here.

Keeping the petty and non offenders locked up to line their pocketbooks while the real criminals walk free.

[scarystuffyo]

10. Sometimes it's true what they say about people picked for jury duty

[shanti]

14. huh

so what do they say?

[NutmegYankee]

17. There is a saying...

Those who are picked for jury duty were only those too stupid to not find a way to avoid it. It's not really true, but some people sadly believe it. I actually wanted to serve on a few civil cases involving car collisions, but was almost immediately rejected from both cases because I am a mechanical engineer. It was pretty obvious that did it - the demeanor of a lawyer would change dramatically right after I stated my profession. But I can see why they wouldn't want someone well trained in physics being on that jury.

[valerief]

2. If she's going to thank her religious faith, she should also blame it

for letting her get incarcerated.

That said, it's good another innocent person was released from prison.

[tk2kewl]

4. To justice!

And to Susan. Whatever the reason, the joy on her face says it all for me.

[sawdust]

5. The prosecutor

should have to spend 17 years in prison...

[Iggo]

12. That would be justice.

[Enthusiast]

8. The US justice system isn't interested in......................................justice.

Really.

[MerryBlooms]

13. These days it's mostly about money.

[shanti]

15. It's ALWAYS about the money. n/t

[EEO]

11. Justice and freedom for all, my ass.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. I can't even imagine........