California: Release of a Hispanic sentenced to 17 years in prison for a crime that he did not commit

Ex express latino Lionel Rubalcava he was released after spending 17 years in prison for a crime, he was exonerated from, according to the Santa Clara County (California) County Attorney's Office.

Cynthia Sumida, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, confirmed that Rubalcava, who has 40 yearshe regained his freedom a few hours after the prosecutor, Jeff Rosen, remove the charges laid almost two decades ago.

Rubalcava was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison for shooting a car in 2002 to a man who became paralyzed in San Jose California.

The exempt person was convicted although she showed that a few minutes after the attack, it had occurred in the town of Hollister, 46 miles from reality.

Five years ago, lawyers from Innocence Project, which is dedicated to the defense of convicts who believe innocent, They took over the case of Rubalcava, who has always defended his innocence.

"They, and the fact that I know I'm innocent, kept me moving, hoping the tests would prove it at some point."Rubalcava said after leaving prison last night at the local newspaper Mercury News in San Jose.

Paige Kaneb, Innocence project lawyer, also told the newspaper that last January They presented a series of evidence that exonerated their client and that the Office of the Prosecutor helped in this process.

Prosecutors again questioned the victim and she stated that she could not guarantee that Rubalcava was the one who had shot.

Kaneb told Mercury News that his client had become the target of the authorities because two days after the murder, he went to that street and stopped to talk to a woman who was right next to him. .

Although there is no material evidence linking him to the crime or any connection with the victim, the Office of the Prosecutor continued the process leading to the conviction.

Before the court that exonerated him, Deputy Attorney General David Angel expressed his "deep regret" for the Rubalcava case and apologized to him and his family on behalf of the office.

Rubalcava, purging his life in Pleasant Valley State Prison, said after being released that he felt "a victim of 17 years of life".