Judge dismisses murder convictions, frees men jailed for 24 years

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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 berated prosecutors for withholding evidence in the 1996 case that could have cast doubt on the guilt of George Bell, 44, Gary JohnsonGary Earl JohnsonOn The Trail: Making sense of Super Poll Sunday Polarized campaign leaves little room for third-party hopes The Memo: Trump keeps narrow path to victory READ MORE, 46, and Rohan Bolt 59, all of whom were convicted of the murders of a discharged NYPD officer Charles Davis and Ira “Mike” Epstein.

According to several reports, prosecutors handling the case did not file police reports linking the killings to other men who were part of a local theft ring.

“The district attorney’s office deliberately withheld credible information from the defense about the guilt of a third party that proves that other people have committed these crimes.” This exculpatory information was in the possession of the prosecution and had in fact been investigated and documented by the lead prosecutor at Mr. Bell’s trial, ”Zayas said, according to CNN.

He also said the prosecution had “completely abdicated its truth-seeking role in these cases,” according to reports.

Five witnesses reportedly gave accounts of the 1996 crime which directly contradicted the men’s confessions.

Lawyers have said they believe Johnson, Bell and Bolt’s confessions were forced, according to multiple reports.

Current Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz also agreed with Zayas to dismiss the convictions, but said further investigation would be carried out to determine guilt or innocence.

“I cannot support these condemnations,” Katz said in a statement Friday, according to the New York Times. “However, there is currently not enough evidence of actual innocence and therefore we take this opportunity to reassess and review the evidence.”

Bell, Bolt and Johnson were all released on their own recognizance on Friday and will return to court in June to determine whether or not they will be fully exonerated. Prosecutors have requested that the case 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 go home,” Bell said on a video conference. Friday.



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