NY Pays $2.6 Mil to Innocent Palladium Murder Defendant
By Jeralyn, Section Innocence Cases
Posted on Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 07:36:07 AM EST
Tags: wrongful convictions (all tags)
Posted on Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 07:36:07 AM EST
Tags: wrongful convictions (all tags)
Olmedo Hildago was one of two men wrongfully convicted in the notorious Palladium night club murder of a bouncer in New York. He served 14 years in prison. There were years of twists and turns and much resistance by DA Morganthau's office before his vindication.
The New York Times reports New York City and State have settled lawsuits with Hildago, who now lives in the Dominican Republic, for $2.6 million.[Hat tip to Blogger Mike.]
The lawsuits of the second defendant, David Lemus, who was retried and acquitted in 1997, are still pending.
The two men had some help establishing their innocence, from unlikely sources: A former prosecutor, a former detective and the jury forewoman.
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