How many death row exonerations does it take before the death penalty is eliminated in Pennsylvania?
Ummmm, I give up. How many does it take?
I don’t know. We’re still counting! ark, ark, ark
Just minutes ago, Glenn Ford, who has spent over 30 years on death row in Louisiana, was released from prison. Here’s the really interesting part: the DA not only doesn’t object, but wrote a memo recommending it. And why would he do such a thing? It’s because they finally figured out that Mr. Ford is innocent. In fact, the prosecution says that he wasn’t even there and should never have been arrested.
We don’t know what the new evidence is. That part hasn’t been made public yet. The DA says “In late 2013, credible evidence came to the attention of the undersigned to support a finding that Glenn Ford was niether present at, nor a participant in, the robbery and murder of Isadore Rozeman.”
The closing paragraph of the motion submitted by Dale G. Cox, First Assistant District Attorney for Caddo Parish, Louisiana, sums it up nicely.
In light of the newly-discovered and credible exculpatory evidence, and in light of its obligation under Brady v. Maryland, the State therefore moves that the Court vacate Ford’s conviction and sentence, without reservation.
I’ll bet the entire group involved in his conviction are out at Hallmark trying to find just the perfect card. Where’s the section for the Welcome To Freedom cards? They’ll probably have to hand-write the “Sorry for taking your life away and all that” part.