Iwao Hakamata, a former professional boxer, was awarded over $1.4 million in compensation after spending 40 years on death row for a quadruple murder he did not commit. His 1968 conviction was overturned last year following DNA evidence proving the incriminating bloodstained clothing was planted. The Shizuoka District Court’s decision marks the highest payout ever for a wrongful conviction in Japan, though his lawyer stated the sum cannot atone for his suffering. Hakamata’s case has drawn international attention to Japan’s justice system and fueled calls for death penalty abolition.
Read More
A federal appeals court overturned Brittany Marlowe Holberg’s death sentence, a decision stemming from the prosecution’s failure to disclose that their key witness, a paid informant, had recanted her testimony. The 2-1 ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals cited a violation of Holberg’s due process rights under the Brady doctrine, finding the undisclosed information crucial to the jury’s verdict. This decision reverses lower court rulings and sends the case back to the trial court. The appeals court judge highlighted the significant impact of Holberg’s 27 years on death row, emphasizing the ongoing need for improvement within the capital punishment system.
Read More
A federal jury awarded John Fulton and Anthony Mitchell $120 million—$60 million each—for their wrongful 2003 murder convictions, which were overturned in 2019 after they served over 16 years in prison. The men alleged coerced confessions and fabricated evidence by Chicago police and prosecutors, with no physical evidence or eyewitnesses linking them to the crime. The city’s Law Department intends to appeal the verdict. The ruling highlights a significant case of alleged police misconduct and wrongful conviction.
Read More
After 30 years of wrongful imprisonment for a 1994 murder, Gordon Cordeiro was released due to newly discovered DNA evidence that excluded him as the source and implicated an unknown individual. A judge vacated his conviction, citing this evidence alongside concerns about unreliable jailhouse informant testimony and ineffective counsel. Although the prosecution plans to appeal and request bail, Cordeiro, who declared his release “Freedom Friday,” expressed gratitude and a desire to see his mother. The Hawaii Innocence Project attributes Cordeiro’s wrongful conviction to police mishandling of the case and the reliance on incentivized informants.
Read More
A Nevada federal jury awarded Kirstin Lobato, now Blaise, $34 million in compensatory damages and $10,000 in punitive damages from two retired Las Vegas detectives, finding they fabricated evidence and inflicted emotional distress during her wrongful conviction for a 2001 murder. Lobato, wrongly convicted twice and imprisoned for nearly 16 years, was exonerated in 2017 after new evidence proved her innocence. The jury’s verdict concluded that Las Vegas police were responsible for her ordeal; the department had preemptively agreed to pay damages should the jury find in Lobato’s favor. The detectives’ attorney plans to appeal the decision.
Read More
In a recent interview, Crystal Mangum recanted her 2006 rape accusation against three Duke lacrosse players, stating she lied to gain validation. Her false testimony led to the players’ arrests, the team’s season cancellation, and the loss of their coach’s job. The charges were ultimately dropped in 2007, with the men later receiving settlements. Mangum, currently incarcerated for murder, expressed remorse and a desire for forgiveness from the three men.
Read More
After nearly three decades of wrongful imprisonment for a 1986 murder and robbery, Michael Sullivan was declared innocent and awarded $13 million. This follows a jury finding that a state police chemist provided false testimony, although this was not the sole basis for the original conviction. Despite the significant financial award, the ruling primarily signifies the vindication of Sullivan’s decades-long claim of innocence. The money will be used largely to support his nieces and nephews, reflecting Sullivan’s desire to provide for his family after years of hardship.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker