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DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years

By Jeralyn, Section Innocence Cases
Posted on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 11:45:27 PM EST
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Gregory Wallis left a Texas jail Monday after serving 18 years for an attempted rape and burglary he didn't commit.

"You should not be incarcerated - not a moment longer," District Judge John Creuzot said before granting him a personal recognizance bond while his attorneys pursue a legal process that would have him officially declared innocent and pardoned.

"I don't know how to apologize," said Judge Creuzot, who was not involved in the first trial. "I don't know where to start, but I'll start with me and 'I'm sorry.' "

The cause of the conviction: erroneous eyewitness identification.

"I don't know how she picked me," he said. "I was sitting at home, and they came and arrested me. The next thing I know, I'm standing trial."

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    DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years (none / 0) (#1)
    by BigTex on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 12:01:52 AM EST
    Just one more in a long line of examples of why te government shoudl immediatly run DNA test on all prisoners if it can prove innocence. Good story.

    Re: DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 03:28:28 AM EST
    Mr. Wallis said he will now turn his attention to the future. Like others falsely convicted in Texas, he's eligible for up to $250,000 in compensation for the years he spent locked up. Injustice apart; pityful.

    Re: DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years (none / 0) (#3)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 08:13:08 AM EST
    Big Tex - Absolutely. Not only would it immediately clear innocent people, it would insure an investigation to try and find the guilty. $250K is not enough. How about $1M per year served? Tax paid by the state.

    Re: DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years (none / 0) (#4)
    by orionATL on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 08:46:21 AM EST
    money for the wrongly convictred is important. but what i want to know is when are the prosecutors who make poor or knowingly false assessments of culpability, hide evidence from defense attorneys, encourage witnesses to lie in return for favorable treatment, going to be judged by the bar or by the court system itself?

    Re: DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years (none / 0) (#5)
    by eric on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 09:14:17 AM EST
    The eyewitness, the prosecuter, and the jury should all reflect and realize their role in this tragedy. I am not saying that there was any malicious intent, but nevertheless, they did have a direct role in ruining a man's life. I hope they know that.

    Re: DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years (none / 0) (#6)
    by jen on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 10:12:49 AM EST
    $250,000 for 18 years? better than nothing I suppose, but pitiful. I wonder if they are even going to try to find the guy who actually did it.

    Re: DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years (none / 0) (#7)
    by Johnny on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 01:47:21 PM EST
    Wonder how long before the DP supporters realize that not only have rapists been released due to wrongful imprisonment, but there have likely been many people murdered by the state as well.

    DNA Frees Texas Man After 18 Years | 7 comments (7 topical)