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An Oklahoma man who in 1975 was convicted of murder in a liquor store robbery was exonerated in court on Tuesday after he had spent more than 48 years in prison, authorities said. It was thought to be the longest time served by a wrongfully convicted inmate in the US, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.
The man, Glynn Simmons, 70, was declared innocent in a ruling by judge Amy Palumbo of Oklahoma County District Court.Simmons was released on bond in July after Palumbo agreed during a status hearing to vacate the judgment and sentence at the request of Vicki Zemp Behenna, the Oklahoma County district attorney who had been reviewing his case.
Behenna found that important evidence in Simmons’ case had not been turned over to his defence lawyers. An amended order, signed by Palumbo on Tuesday, said that the court found “by clear and convincing evidence” that the crime that Simmons was imprisoned for “was not committed by Simmons.” According to exonerations registry, Simmons spent more time behind bars – 48 years, one month and 18 days – than any other person cleared of charges. “It’s a lesson in resilience and tenacity,” Simmons said. “Don’t let nobody tell you that it can’t happen, because it really can.”
Simmons was 22 when he was convicted of first-degree murder in December 1974. Joe Norwood, a lawyer for Simmons, said that the Tuesday ruling paved the way for Simmons to receive up to $175,000 in compensation and gave him the opportunity to file a federal lawsuit.
The man, Glynn Simmons, 70, was declared innocent in a ruling by judge Amy Palumbo of Oklahoma County District Court.Simmons was released on bond in July after Palumbo agreed during a status hearing to vacate the judgment and sentence at the request of Vicki Zemp Behenna, the Oklahoma County district attorney who had been reviewing his case.
Behenna found that important evidence in Simmons’ case had not been turned over to his defence lawyers. An amended order, signed by Palumbo on Tuesday, said that the court found “by clear and convincing evidence” that the crime that Simmons was imprisoned for “was not committed by Simmons.” According to exonerations registry, Simmons spent more time behind bars – 48 years, one month and 18 days – than any other person cleared of charges. “It’s a lesson in resilience and tenacity,” Simmons said. “Don’t let nobody tell you that it can’t happen, because it really can.”
Simmons was 22 when he was convicted of first-degree murder in December 1974. Joe Norwood, a lawyer for Simmons, said that the Tuesday ruling paved the way for Simmons to receive up to $175,000 in compensation and gave him the opportunity to file a federal lawsuit.
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