After 22 years DNA frees man convicted of rape

[Mrs Behavin]

ELIZABETH, N.J. - Prosecutors on Monday said they would not retry a man who spent 22 years in prison for the murder and rape of two children and was recently freed after DNA testing exonerated him.
In a statement released before a court hearing Monday, Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow said he decided not to pursue the charges following “careful re-evaluation of the case” against Byron Halsey.
Halsey, 46, was released from prison on May 15 after prosecutors threw out his convictions. New DNA testing, not available when he was convicted, linked a neighbor to the crime.
However, until Monday, Halsey could have been retried on charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated manslaughter, felony murder, child abuse and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Instead, on the prosecutor’s recommendation, a judge dropped all charges.
Halsey had been convicted in 1988 of murdering and sexually assaulting Tyrone and Tina Urquhart, the children of his girlfriend, with whom he lived at a Plainfield rooming house.

DNA test frees man convicted of rape - Crime & Punishment - MSNBC.com

 

[GraceAbounds]

I haven't checked this out, but I've heard that DNA testing is backed waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up.

My heart goes out to this man. I hope he can rebuild his life and find a way to not be bitter of the injustice he's been through.

 

[All Else Failed]

And this ladies and gentlemen, is another reason why capital punishment should be outlawed. What if this man was on death row and they did not discover he was truly innocent?

 

[Maritxu]

Must totally suck. poor man

About capital punishment, it should be outlawed, no doubt, but this is not the man reason why I think it should. It's barbaric and goes against human rights. That is far enough for me.

 

[All Else Failed]

Well, the most ridiculous part of capital punishment is that its simply state mandated murder. The state is basically saying "Hey, a bunch of people agree he/she should die, so it must be right!".

 

[sundvlfn88]

That is a hell of a long time to spend in jail for something you didn't do.