Michael Morton story - innocent but served 25 yrs

[Howard]

Picked up a Texas monthly magazine today from nov 2012 and started reading what I thought would be a page or 2. Several pages later I was ticked to see " part 2 next month "

Google and iPhone and I then read some of part two. Just finished a few min ago. Crazy story - right here in Texas- Crooked DA and know it all sherif and real mess they created -

Well worth reading ! Anyone remember this or read about it - crazy

[blacksunshine]

I remember it as it happened....williamson county is known for it's corruption so none of it is a surprise

[Howard]

Well written article that was hard to put it down. Add the details they painted falsely, the note, birthday sex or lack of story and man it was crazy.

Can't imagine all that time - 25 years. Basically lost his son each year as he got older and fed lies- name ruined etc.

No telling how many people are in prison like that

[blacksunshine]

Well written article that was hard to put it down. Add the details they painted falsely, the note, birthday sex or lack of story and man it was crazy.

Can't imagine all that time - 25 years. Basically lost his son each year as he got older and fed lies- name ruined etc.

No telling how many people are in prison like that

unfortunately, that's the justice system....it's not about justice anymore...it's about winning at all costs......personally, if found that the da intentionally withheld evidence and Michael Morton spent 25 years in the pokey because of it....I think the corrupt da should pay his debt to society by spending the next 25 years of his life in the pokey...

[Howard]

Looking for updates I see the now judge is on trial.

Also just last month gov Rick perry signed MM law into effect

[Daniel75]

There have been double digit cases in Dallas County in recent history (since the 80's) where men have served time in prison for violent crimes they didn't commit. Many have been freed on DNA evidence. If evidence was withheld or falsified, I think the DA's should go to prison.

[JHT]

I am really pro death penalty but stories like this really make me think about it.

I agree, it's a great read.

[Russ]

There have been double digit cases in Dallas County in recent history (since the 80's) where men have served time in prison for violent crimes they didn't commit. Many have been freed on DNA evidence. If evidence was withheld or falsified, I think the DA's should go to prison.

A very close friend of mines brother was convicted of rape and attempted murder. Late he was found innocent after DNA test evolved. Cost him 18 years of his life!!!

[Daniel75]

A very close friend of mines brother was convicted of rape and attempted murder. Late he was found innocent after DNA test evolved. Cost him 18 years of his life!!!

It happens all the time brother. IMO, and I know its cost prohibitive and DA's and judges are reluctant to overturn convictions, but I feel that any and all cases of rape and murder where there was DNA recovered at the crime scene, there should be mandatory testing of that evidence. Sadly, that will never happen and some innocent people will rot in prison for the rest of their lives. Its staggering to think of how many it has already happened to just in modern history. Sometimes its no fault of the prosecution, police, victims or juries....sometimes, its just a person caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Weird that this thread was posted....we had to watch a video at work about "Brady". In the video was the assistant Chief of police in Richardson, Texas who was talking about a case from 1985. He was a young detective back then and recalled a horrific rape case he worked. He said that the victim studied every inch of her attacker's face and was positive when she was shown a photo lineup that she correctly picked out the man who assaulted her for over an hour. During sentencing, the defendant looked over at her and told her he was going to kill her.

23 years later the Asst Chief received a phone call from the Dallas County DA telling him that after DNA testing, the defendant was NOT the man who had raped the victim. It was actually another suspect that was in the same photo lineup as the man who was wrongfully convicted. The innocent man was set free after 23 years in prison serving back to back life sentences for burglary and aggravated sexual assault. Only through the help of The Innocence Project was this man's DNA tested and his conviction overturned. Now the wrongfully accused man and the woman who accused him go speak together at seminars about "eye witness" statements.

In another twist to the story, the actual offender was located and is serving another 5 years in prison right now for a federal offense he committed, but the statute of limitations has run out on the crimes he's guilty of in the Richardson rape and burglary (at least thats the way the video made it sound even though to my knowledge there IS NO statute of limitations on sexual assault with DNA testing, although that may have been grandfathered in recently).

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/04/for_the_16th_time_a_dallas_cou.php

http://www.texasobserver.org/freedom-fighters/ <<<another case right here from Dallas Co

[Nate Riley]

Well written article that was hard to put it down. Add the details they painted falsely, the note, birthday sex or lack of story and man it was crazy.

Can't imagine all that time - 25 years. Basically lost his son each year as he got older and fed lies- name ruined etc.

No telling how many people are in prison like that

There are folks in prison who are angels compared to many of the crooks in the "justice system". For most it is all about getting a conviction and not justice.

Something else that will burn you up, if you think about it too much, is who they keep and who the release early. The sentencing makes no sense in many cases.

[splitfinger]

I remember this case very well. Living in Austin at the time, Michael had purchased some pressure washing equipment from me back then for a moonlighting job of cleaning parking lots. My office was shocked to find out he had been arrested for killing his wife while allowing his infant son walk the neighborhood just after the killing. Having only met him a few times, I could not believe he was capable of this horrible crime. What a shame that he was sent to prison for so long and not being guilty. I truly hope those responsible for this error of justice will receive what they deserve.

[Howard]

Yeah based on the article only of course sounds like the sheriff had his mind made up from the start- Before ever questioning Michael he already had it all drawn up in his mind and wasn't going to let it be any other way- While be may have been right most of the time- this time he wasn't - cost a man his life, another woman her life (killer by same murderer that was never even checked out)

Details of the kid saying his dad wasn't there and a big monster man did it etc,

The footprints and bandana- the eye witness of the green van and person

Crazy!

[Landrover]

Something my grandparents and parents preached to us all of our life!!! In-justice is more the norm than justice in a uncomfortably large amount of cases.

[JTRichardson]

No such thing as a justice system, only a legal system in this country.

[MKH]

I remember this story. Man, this lady can write! This reminds me of the non-fiction book John Grisham wrote, The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town. Sad that the justice system forgot that they were not the legal system.