In the United States, after almost half a century in prison, the court acquitted 70-year-old Glynn Simmons from Oklahoma. He served the longest term of false imprisonment in the United States.
This was reported by New York Times.
The court ruled “on the basis of clear and convincing evidence” that the crime for which Glynn Simmons was imprisoned “was not committed by Mr. Simmons.”
According to the National Register of Exonerations, the 48 years, one month and 18 days Simmons spent behind bars is the longest period of false imprisonment in the United States. “This is a lesson in resilience and perseverance. Don’t let anyone tell you that it can’t happen, because it can,” Simmons said after the ruling.
In 1975, a 22-year-old man was convicted of murder during a liquor store robbery in Edmond, Oklahoma. Simmons and Don Roberts were found guilty of the murder of clerk Carolyn Sue Rogers, who was shot in the head by two robbers.
Prosecutors relied on the words of a woman who was wounded during the store robbery and allegedly identified Simmons and Roberts. Later, the eyewitness contradicted some of her testimony.
According to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, the men were initially sentenced to death, but their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment. Roberts was released from prison on parole in 2008, and Simmons has remained behind bars until now.
Simmons plans to receive compensation from the state in the amount of $175,000.
“He didn’t have the opportunity to get work experience or a career to be able to financially support himself and his family. All of that was taken away from him,” emphasized Joe Norwood, Simmons’ lawyer.
