Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

RockaFowler

(7,429 posts)
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 02:43 PM Apr 2013

Man held for 42 years in deadly Arizona hotel fire ordered freed from prison

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/02/17568019-man-held-for-42-years-in-deadly-arizona-hotel-fire-ordered-freed-from-prison?lite

An Arizona man who has maintained for 42 years that he had nothing to do with a horrific hotel fire that killed more than two dozen people pleaded no contest Tuesday in a deal that sets aside his original conviction and frees him from prison.

"Welcome back, Mr. Taylor," Tucson Superior Court Judge Richard Fields said after accepting 59-year-old Louis Cuen Taylor's plea on Tuesday, reported The Arizona Daily Star. The plea deal gives him credit for time already served.

Taylor was just 16 years old when he was sentenced to multiple consecutive life sentences for a fire that ripped through the Pioneer Hotel, a Tucson landmark that went up in flames in December 1970 while employees of an aircraft company were there for a Christmas party.


42 YEARS?? He was only 16 years old at the time and they gave him multiple life sentences?? Oh my. The Justice System is messed up!
9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Man held for 42 years in deadly Arizona hotel fire ordered freed from prison (Original Post) RockaFowler Apr 2013 OP
wow..never heard of this case... Blue_Tires Apr 2013 #1
Yes, the system is broken. slackmaster Apr 2013 #2
I must have missed the sarcasm tag.... OldDem2012 Apr 2013 #4
This message was self-deleted by its author slackmaster Apr 2013 #5
That's really sick. EOTE Apr 2013 #6
Maybe it would be different if the defendant was accused of using an assault rifle. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #7
But then he'd just be exercising his 2nd amendment rights. EOTE Apr 2013 #8
Are you serious? n-t Logical Apr 2013 #9
Kick! Heidi Apr 2013 #3
 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
2. Yes, the system is broken.
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 02:57 PM
Apr 2013

Letting him out is a terrible mistake. He's one of the worst mass murderers in history.

OldDem2012

(3,526 posts)
4. I must have missed the sarcasm tag....
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 03:25 PM
Apr 2013

....quote from the article:

Taylor, who is black, claims police pinned the crime on him and an all-white jury gave him an unfair trial. A 2002 examination of his case by CBS' "60 Minutes" found evidence that he had been railroaded and led volunteer legal group The Arizona Justice Project to take on his case.

Response to OldDem2012 (Reply #4)

EOTE

(13,409 posts)
6. That's really sick.
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 05:37 PM
Apr 2013

Do you really think killers are let go so easily? Do you know how often this awful stuff happens? The pieces of shit who locked this man away for a substantial portion of his life really don't need anymore defenders than they already have.

EOTE

(13,409 posts)
8. But then he'd just be exercising his 2nd amendment rights.
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 05:47 PM
Apr 2013

You can't be thrown in jail for exercising your rights, can you?

Now, being at the wrong place at the wrong time? That can easily rob you of your freedom. Especially if you're a minority.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Man held for 42 years in ...