Paul Gatling cleared of 1963 murder

[catsmate]

A Virginia man who spent a decade in prison after pleading guilty to a New York City slaying over 50 years ago was cleared of the crime Monday, the AP reports.

At prosecutorial request the conviction of 81-year-old Paul Gatling for the 1963 murder of Lawrence Rothbort has been vacated. The judge apologised for the wrongful conviction. Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson said:
"Paul Gatling repeatedly proclaimed his innocence even as he faced the death penalty back in the sixties. He was pressured to plead guilty and, sadly, did not receive a fair trial".

AP
NY Times

 

[Samson]

A Virginia man who spent a decade in prison after pleading guilty to a New York City slaying over 50 years ago was cleared of the crime Monday, the AP reports.

At prosecutorial request the conviction of 81-year-old Paul Gatling for the 1963 murder of Lawrence Rothbort has been vacated. The judge apologised for the wrongful conviction. Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson said:
"Paul Gatling repeatedly proclaimed his innocence even as he faced the death penalty back in the sixties. He was pressured to plead guilty and, sadly, did not receive a fair trial".

AP
NY Times

Once again science fails to help the prosecution. Evidence will generally tie a man to the crime. When this is missing, the false accusation tape runs again.
There are people theorising medical procedures will be proceeded with only when scientific evidence it will help is bullet proof.
Imagine criminal law working that way.