Jon-Adrian Velazquez Exonerated After 27 Years in Prison

Published: 30 September 2024 at 20:38

Politics

Jon-Adrian Velazquez, who spent nearly 27 years in New York's Sing Sing prison for a murder he maintained he didn't commit, was exonerated in a Manhattan courtroom after prosecutors reviewed his case. Key factors in the decision included recanted eyewitness testimony and DNA evidence. Velazquez, who was sentenced to 25 years to life, was granted clemency in 2021 and finally declared innocent on Monday, celebrating with family and supporters.

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Jon-Adrian Velazquez (Wikipedia)

Jon-Adrian Velazquez (born November 11, 1975) also known as "JJ" Velazquez, is an American criminal legal reform activist who was wrongfully convicted of a 1998 murder of a retired police officer. He was serving a 25 years to life sentence at maximum security Sing-Sing prison in New York. His case garnered considerable attention from the media ten years after his conviction, due to a long-term investigation by Dateline NBC producer Dan Slepian and celebrity support from actor Martin Sheen, actress Alfre Woodard,music executive Jason Flom, and entertainment company Roc Nation.On May 8, 2022 The New York Times published an extensive feature on how Velazquez was Slepian's "one man innocent project" inside Sing Sing prison to help free several innocent men.

Denis Coles Found Responsible for 1977 Rape of 11-Year-Old Girl in Cardiff

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Key Witnesses Refuse to Testify in Daniel Penny's Manslaughter Trial

In the upcoming manslaughter trial of Daniel Penny, a couple who filmed the incident on a Manhattan subway have refused to provide their footage or testify. The couple, visiting from Europe, witnessed Penny restraining Jordan Neely, a homeless street performer who was shouting before his death. Their video is seen as critical evidence for Penny's defense, yet the couple has only engaged in limited dialogue with prosecutors, preferring to remain anonymous and not return for the trial scheduled to start on October 21.

Trial of Bryan Kohberger Moved Due to Public Sentiment in Moscow, Idaho

Bryan Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, has had his trial moved from Moscow to Boise due to concerns over impartiality stemming from extensive media coverage and community emotions. Kohberger faces four murder charges and a potential death penalty if convicted. The trial is set for June 2025. Prosecutors claim Kohberger's DNA and surveillance evidence link him to the crime, while his defense argues he was merely driving in the area for recreational purposes. Issues regarding evidence disclosure have also arisen in court.