Prisoners in Michigan and New York claim innocence

Two newspaper stories today delve deeply into the cases of three men in prison for crimes they say they didn’t commit.

The New York Times covers the case of Everton Wagstaffe, 40, who has been behind bars for more than 16 years for a 1992 murder he says he didn’t commit. Since 2004, Wagstaffe has been seeking DNA tests on hairs found on the victim’s body and scrapings from beneath her fingernails. Yesterday, the Legal Aid Society of New York offered to pay for the DNA tests. The Innocence Project has consulted on Wagstaffe’s case.

Read the full New York Times story here, and listen to an interview with Wagstaffe

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The cover story of today’s Detroit MetroTimes is on DeShawn Reed and his uncle, Marvin Reed. The men have served seven years in prison for a shooting they say they didn’t commit. The shooting victim, who survived but is paralyzed, apparently identified the Reeds by blinking his eyes in response to police questioning at the hospital. However, sources told the MetroTimes that the victim now says he he didn’t see the shooter. Evidence of the Reeds’ innocence is building and they are seeking a new trial.



Read the full MetroTimes story here

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