Oklahoma Judge Frees Innocent Man After 48 Years in Landmark Case
In a historic turn of events, Glynn Simmons, 70, has been declared innocent by an Oklahoma judge after spending an astounding 48 years in prison for a crime he did not commit – making it the longest-known wrongful sentence in the United States. Simmons, who was freed in July due to crucial evidence not being disclosed to his defense team, received the exoneration on Tuesday from Judge Amy Palumbo.
The wrongful conviction dates back to 1974 when Simmons, then 22, was accused of the murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers during a liquor store robbery in an Oklahoma City suburb. Despite consistently asserting his innocence and maintaining he was in his home state of Louisiana at the time of the crime, Simmons, along with co-defendant Don Roberts, was convicted and initially sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment.
The breakthrough in Simmons’ case came when a district court discovered that prosecutors had failed to provide all the evidence to the defense, including a crucial detail – a witness had identified other suspects. The court’s ruling declared, “This court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offence for which Mr. Simmons was convicted… was not committed by Mr. Simmons.”
The moment of justice brought a smile to Simmons’ face, dressed in a grey hooded sweater and fedora. He expressed a mix of relief and accountability, stating, “What’s been done can’t be undone, but there can be accountability.”
This case underscores the resilience and tenacity of individuals fighting for justice, as Simmons, now battling liver cancer, embraces his newfound freedom. Notably, his co-defendant, Don Roberts, was released on parole in 2008.
As Simmons faces the aftermath of a wrongful conviction, support has poured in through a GoFundMe campaign, raising thousands of dollars to aid his living costs and chemotherapy expenses. The state of Oklahoma offers compensation of up to $175,000 for wrongfully convicted individuals, shedding light on the broader implications and struggles faced by those seeking justice. (Source: BBC News)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67782907