[FADPUpdate] Breaking News - Another FL Exoneration

[melliott3 at aol.com]

Friends,

Bulletin from The Innocence Project:

CHAD HEINS EXONERATED AFTER 13 YEARS BEHIND BARS

Innocence Project client Chad Heins walked out of a Florida jail this 
afternoon, a free man for the first time since he was 20 years old.

New DNA evidence proves that another man committed the murder for which 
Heins was incarcerated for 13 years. Today, Heins' long wait for 
justice came to an end and he became the 209th person nationwide — and 
the ninth in Florida — to be exonerated by DNA evidence.

Heins was convicted in 1996 of killing his sister-in-law, Tina. He 
always said he had nothing to do with the crime and was convicted 
despite DNA tests at his trial showing that hairs in the victim's bed 
came from an unknown man. New DNA tests now show that the same unknown 
man also left other biological evidence at the scene.


FADP note:

Read more about this case and all 9 of Florida's DNA exonerations:

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/1051.php

Chad Heins was originally sentenced to life in prison.  He served 13 
years.  Florida prisoners average 12 years on Death Row before they are 
killed.  Had Heins been sentenced to Death, he may well have been 
executed by now.  This was a DNA exoneration.  At least 22 prisoners 
have been exonerated off Florida's Death Row due to this and other 
evidence of wrongful conviction...far more than any other state.  How 
many more?

Read about Florida's exonerated Death Row prisoners:

http://www.fadp.org/fl_exonerated.html

This latest exoneration is a result of the dedication to justice and 
hard work of Barry Scheck and Innocence Project Staff Attorney Nina 
Morrison who handled Heins’ case for the last several years, with pro 
bono counsel Robert Beckham of Holland & Knight LLP and consultation 
and assistance from the Innocence Project of Florida. Robert Link, of 
Pajcic and Pajcic in Jacksonville, served as pro bono co-counsel in the 
retrial preparations and negotiations.

Florida's leadership continues to deny glaring evidence of the fatal 
flaws in our criminal justice system.  Prosecutors continue to seek the 
Death Penalty.  Death Warrants are signed.  Florida provides no 
established compensation, no counselling...nothing for wrongfully 
convicted prisoners.

Shine the light,

Mark Elliott, Executive Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, FADP.org

2840 W. Bay Drive, #118
Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
(727)215-9646
mark at fadp.org















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