The judge expels the convictions for murder and releases men imprisoned for 24 years

by

A New York state judge on Friday dismissed the murder convictions of three men who had been jailed for 24 years.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas reprimanded prosecutors who had withheld evidence in the 1996 case that could have called into question the guilt of George Bell, 44. Gary JohnsonGary Earl Johnson: On The Trail: Making sense of Super Poll Sunday’s polarized campaign leaves little room for third-party aspirants The note: Trump keeps the narrow path to victory MORE, 46, and Rohan Bolt, 59, who were found guilty of the murders of an NYPD off-duty police officer, Charles Davis and Ira “Mike” Epstein.

According to several reports, prosecutors in the case did not submit police reports related to the murders to other men who were part of a local burglary ring.

“The District Attorney’s Office deliberately withheld from the defense credible information of third-party guilt that shows other people may have committed these crimes. This exculpatory information was in the possession of the prosecution and had in fact been investigated and documented by the chief prosecutor. in Mr. Bell’s Trial, “Zayas told CNN.

He also claimed that the prosecution “completely abdicated its role of seeking the truth in these cases,” according to reports.

According to reports, five witnesses gave reports of the crime in 1996 that directly contradict the confessions of the men.

Lawyers said they believed Johnson, Bell and Bolt’s confessions were coerced, according to several reports.

Current Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz also agreed with Zayas to drop the sentences, but said more investigation will be done to determine guilt or innocence.

“I can’t stand behind these convictions,” Katz said in a statement Friday, according to The New York Times. “However, at this time there is not enough evidence about actual innocence and therefore we take this opportunity to re-evaluate and examine the evidence.”

Bell, Bolt and Johnson were released on Friday on their own and will return to court in June to determine whether they will be fully acquitted or not. Prosecutors have called for the case to continue to be investigated, according to CNN.

“Today is the day I found the key. Today is the day, today is the day, today is the day, I’m going home,” Bell said in a video conference Friday.

.Source