A Texas man who spent 34 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of aggravated assault was exonerated Thursday by a Dallas County judge who ruled that he is actually innocent.

The judge approved a motion by the Dallas County District Attorney’s office to dismiss the case against Benjamin Spencer, 59, who was initially convicted in 1987 of murder in the carjacking and death of Jeffrey Young.

“This day has been a long time coming. I am relieved and humbled to help correct this injustice,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot.

Spencer, who has maintained his innocence, saw his 1987 conviction later overturned. He was then tried again and convicted and sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery of Young.

    • School_Lunch@lemmy.world
      19·
      2 months ago

      People always point to the worst of the worst to justify the death penalty, but it’s not about them. It’s about us. I just picture people who support the death penalty the same as medieval peasants cheering on the gruesome torture and execution of a criminal like its some kind of entertainment. People need to do more introspection about what part of their personality they are feeding when they give in to the desire for vengeance. That’s not even taking into account that no justice system is perfect.

    • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works
      17·
      2 months ago

      I don’t oppose the death penalty because I don’t think some crimes are heinous enough to deserve it, I oppose the death penalty because I don’t trust the justice system to not make mistakes.

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
      25·
      2 months ago

      Fuck that.

      Let’s look at minimum wage at the time he was imprisoned: $3.35/hour. Make that his wage the entire time he was in prison. After the first 40 hours a week he’d get OT, so it comes out to about $3,300/month. Since he wasn’t able to spend that money, let’s put a monthly payment into the market, with an average return of 7%…

      That would put him at $6,587,619.39 at the end of 37 years if we value his freedom at the 1987 minimum wage.

      That should be the opening bid from he state.

    • seang96@spgrn.com
      12·
      2 months ago

      Good news sorta

      Under Texas law, he is eligible for a lump sum payment of up to $80,000 for each year he was incarcerated and an annuity, Wattley said.

      I figured Texas would tell him to gtfo

  • KoboldCoterie@pawb.socialEnglish
    48·
    2 months ago

    “This day has been a long time coming. I am relieved and humbled to help correct this injustice,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot.

    The guy’s 59, he’s been in prison for most of his adult life. He likely has no house, no savings, no family. While it’s obviously great that he was released, he ought to be given a sizable pension for the rest of his life at the very least… I don’t know what actually happens in cases like this, but if he’s just released without being given some kind of major compensation for the wrongful imprisonment, the injustice isn’t being corrected at all.

    • homura1650@lemmy.world
      15·
      2 months ago

      He is entitled to $80,000 per year imprisoned; payable as a lump sum of $2,720,000 or as a lifetime annuity at the same present value as the lump sum payment. I don’t know exactly what the state sponsored annuity would pay, but a quick estimate from schwab estimates it at $15,483/month.

      That still doesn’t pay for 34 years in prison. However, it is a respectable retirement.