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Man Absolved By DNA Given $2.2 Million
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Published: May 11, 2008
MIAMI - City officials have agreed to pay $2.2 million to a man wrongfully convicted of six murders and a rape.
Jerry Frank Townsend spent 22 years in prison after he was convicted of the crimes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. DNA evidence exonerated him, and he was freed in 2001.
Miami city commissioners agreed Thursday to settle a lawsuit with Townsend. He is still suing the Broward County Sheriff's Office, which charged him with several killings.
The lawsuits allege that detectives coerced confessions from Townsend, who has an IQ of about 50, and doctored evidence against him.
The Associated Press
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Posted by ( JohnHMarshall ) on May 11, 2008 at 1 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
You know-- it is amazing how all the "law and order type shows are on tv these days. They show the high tech forensics and scientific knowledge used by the "beautiful stars" to solve crimes. Yet, in reality, you hear all the time of people wrongly convicted of capital and other crimes as Mr Townsend. With all this technology at their command, why are law enforcement authorities still coercing confessions and doctoring evidence? While this technology has also freed many innocent people from jail, I wonder how these officers can go hme and sleep at night knowing they have railroaded someone into jail on doctored evidence and a coerced cofession!!
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't think that was enough money!
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Posted by ( AprilM ) on May 11, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
As long as there was misconduct on the part of the police or the prosecution, I have no issue with paying these guys. However, if the police or prosecution did nothing wrong and they were convicted by a jury of their peers, I don't think they deserve a dime.
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Posted by ( Old_FL_Crab ) on May 11, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
@JohnHMarshal, Mr Townsend was convicted 29 years ago, it's the 'new science' stuff that freed him.
@ceibert, That's twice the rate that State of Florida just approved, and Broward county hasn't settled yet. Plus with an I.Q of 50, he could't have made $100,00 a year unless he got a government job or was elected to office somewhere ;-)
@AprilM, Suit claims they DID doctor or invent evidence. Also most DA's just want a conviction ANY conviction, right or wrong.
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 11, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Crab, I think they should give him Leto's job in hernando.:p
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Posted by ( Aquaholic ) on May 12, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Suprise.. Suprise.. Police coerced confessions, framing, double standards, doctored evidence, etc. Are we suppose to be suprised by this?
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Posted by ( H8TR ) on May 12, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Dont worry..I'm sure the "leos" will find something to arrest him for.
jaywalking, stepping on sidewalk cracks, brushing his teeth sid-to-side instead of up and down, snoring, etc.
Gotta keep them criminals off the street!
Go ahead and let the bus rapist out tough.
Gotta save the rrom for the folks that have broken mirrors and such.
THEY are the real dangers!
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