Texas man's murder conviction dropped; released after 19 years

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Texas man's murder conviction dropped; released after 19 years
By Jon Herskovitz
May 17, 2016

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas man jailed for about 19 years on a murder conviction was freed from prison on Tuesday after compelling evidence came to light indicating that he did not commit the crime, officials said.

"I feel blessed," John Nolley, 42, told reporters after hugging his family and leaving a courtroom. A judge in Tarrant County released him on bond and vacated his conviction for the 1996 murder of Sharon McLane, who was found stabbed to death in her home.

He was freed with the help of the advocacy group Innocence Project, which pointed out problems with his prosecution to the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Tarrant County District Attorney.

The group raised questions over the reliability of state witnesses, the improper withholding of evidence and physical evidence improperly used to link Nolley to the crime.


Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-mans-murder-conviction-dropped-released-19-years-192831177.html?nhp=1

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John Nolley smiles as he leaves the courtroom following his release from custody, Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at the 213th District Court, in Fort Worth, Texas.



http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/john-nolley-walks-from-the-tim-curry-criminal-justice-center-to-lunch-picture-id531959194

[ailsagirl]

1. That's horrendous-- he served 19 years for something he didn't do n/t

[Chicago1980]

2. And now for restitution...

[Judi Lynn]

3. I wouldn't know why not? Is that your first thought about this man's situation? n/t

[Chicago1980]

4. In the moment that I was typing it was a thought that wafted through my head.

Certainly the evidence always existed that he wasn't guilty and why did it take 19 years to come to light.

The hell he's been through over the past nearly two decades was the primary though I had.

[Judi Lynn]

5. I jumped the gun, confusing you with one of the trolls who come here to shriek about reparations,

wild with stupid rage that such a thing could ever happen.

We get heavy racist troll traffic through here at times!

Sorry. I'm glad I was wrong.

Thanks.

[Chicago1980]

6. We're cool...

I could have elaborated in my first post, but I was on the move...

Makes you wonder though... How many more like him are there in there?

I can only fathom the answer as being one is too many.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. Nothing will ever make this right

but as a Tarrant county property owner, I hope this man is taken care of financially. Two decades of labor lost, plus pain and suffering for him and his family.

[olddad56]

8. think about how many innocent people have been put to death in Texas and elsewhere