Morton Nears Official Exoneration in Texas
10.12.11
Michael Morton, who was released from prison last Tuesday after serving nearly 25 years for a murder that new DNA evidence shows he didn’t commit, was declared actually innocent by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today.
The state’s Court of Criminal Appeals agreed today to toss out Michael Morton’s 1987 conviction and life sentence for the murder of his wife, reported the Austin American-Statesman.
“We determine that (Morton) is entitled to relief on his actual innocence claim,” the court said, noting that DNA tests indicate that another man, unidentified in court documents, was the killer.
Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley has agreed to pursue a dismissal of the charges against Morton, and he is expected to be officially cleared in approximately 30 days – making him eligible for state compensation.
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