Oklahoma City to Pay $7M to Exonerated Former Dying Row Inmate – Cyber Tech

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma metropolis has agreed to pay greater than $7 million to a former loss of life row inmate who was exonerated after practically 50 years in jail, making him the longest-serving inmate to be declared harmless of a criminal offense.

The Edmond Metropolis Council voted with out touch upon Monday to settle the lawsuit filed by Glynn Ray Simmons, 71, towards the Oklahoma Metropolis suburb and a former police detective for $7.15 million.

“Mr. Simmons spent a tragic period of time incarcerated for a criminal offense he didn’t commit,” his lawyer, Elizabeth Wang stated in an announcement. “Though he won’t ever get that point again, this settlement with Edmond will permit him to maneuver ahead” together with his life.

The lawsuit makes related claims towards Oklahoma Metropolis and a retired Oklahoma Metropolis detective, who additionally investigated the theft and capturing, which aren’t affected by the settlement and stay pending.

A spokesperson for Oklahoma Metropolis stated Wednesday that the town doesn’t touch upon pending litigation.

The lawsuit alleges police falsified a report by stating {that a} witness who was wounded within the capturing recognized Simmons and co-defendant Don Roberts as the 2 who robbed the shop and shot the clerk.

The lawsuit additionally alleges police withheld proof that the witness recognized two different individuals as suspects.

Simmons was launched from jail in July 2023 after a decide vacated his conviction and sentence and ordered a brand new trial.

District Legal professional Vickie Behenna introduced in September that she wouldn’t retry the case as a result of there is no such thing as a longer bodily proof towards Simmons.

In December, a decide exonerated Simmons, saying there was “clear and convincing proof” that he didn’t commit the crime and Simmons has obtained $175,000 from the state of Oklahoma for wrongful conviction.

Simmons served 48 years, one month and 18 days, making him the longest imprisoned U.S. inmate to be exonerated, in response to knowledge saved by The Nationwide Registry of Exonerations.

Simmons, who has maintained that he was in Louisiana on the time of the crime, and Roberts had been each convicted of the homicide of the liquor retailer clerk, Carolyn Sue Rogers, and sentenced to loss of life.

Their sentences had been diminished to life in jail in 1977 after U.S. Supreme Courtroom rulings associated to capital punishment and Roberts was launched on parole in 2008.

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