News
US man wrongly jailed for 48years to receive $7.15m compensation
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A 71-year-old man who spent 48 years in jail over a crime he was wrongly imprisoned for will receive a $7.15 million settlement from the city responsible for his wrongful conviction.
Glynn Simmons, holds the record for serving the longest time in prison before being exonerated in U.S. history, according to The National Registry of Exonerations.
Simmons was released last year after enduring 48 years, one month, and 18 days of wrongful imprisonment.
The city council of Edmond, Oklahoma, voted on Monday to approve a settlement that would compensate Simmons and settle claims against the city and a detective linked to his conviction, as revealed by public records.
Simmons’ legal team described the settlement as a “partial resolution” of his lawsuit, which alleges that city officials and police officers fabricated evidence to frame him for murder.
Lead attorney Elizabeth Wang said, “Mr. Simmons spent a tragic amount of time incarcerated for a crime he did not commit.
Although he will never get that time back, this settlement with Edmond will allow him to move forward while also continuing to press his claims against Oklahoma City and a leading detective.”
In 1975, Simmons and another man, Don Roberts, were sentenced to death for the murder of a 30-year-old liquor store clerk during a robbery in Edmond the previous year. Their sentences were later reduced to life in prison.
The conviction of both men was based solely on the testimony of a teenage customer who survived being shot in the head during the robbery.
Although she identified them in a police lineup, a later investigation cast serious doubt on the accuracy of her identification.
Both Simmons and Roberts testified during their trial that they were not even in Oklahoma at the time of the crime.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Palumbo overturned Simmons’s conviction in July of last year, and he was officially declared innocent in December.
Roberts, who was also wrongfully convicted, was released from prison in 2008, according to The National Registry of Exonerations, a project by three U.S. universities.
News
Reps Quiz Health Minister Over Controversial Concession Agreements, PPPs
News
Reps Summon Ministers of Agriculture, Science, Budget, Union Bank Over $2bn Renewable Energy Grants
News
Tinubu promotes acting COAS Oluyede to Lieutenant General
By Francesca Hangeior.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday decorated the acting Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, as Lieutenant General.
It was gathered that the short ceremony took place in the President’s office complex at the State House, Abuja.
“President Tinubu decorates acting Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, as Lt. General,” a snippet from the president’s communications team read Tuesday.
Tinubu had appointed Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff last Wednesday, even as his predecessor, Taoreed Lagbaja, remains indisposed for weeks.
-
Foreign20 hours ago
US Election: Over 77 Million Voters Have Cast Ballots
-
News14 hours ago
Equatorial Guinea S3x Scandal: Lady Reportedly Takes Own Life After Seeing Clips
-
News13 hours ago
Just in: EndBadGovernance kids freed at last
-
News20 hours ago
Multiple Accidents Involving Four Vehicles On 3rd Mainland Bridge +Video
-
Economy20 hours ago
Access Holdings’ Total Assets Grows to N41.1 Trillion in Q3
-
News20 hours ago
Tinubu swears in new ministers, says economic recovery is on the right path
-
News19 hours ago
No going back on forex, subsidy reforms – Finance minister
-
News19 hours ago
#EndBadGovernance: Senator criticises Nigeria’s police chief over comment on minors