Lawrence McKinney was 22 in 1977 when he was wrongly accused of rape. He was sent to prison the next year.
(CNN)A
Tennessee man who served 31 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit
is petitioning the state to compensate him $1 million for the years of
his life that were taken away. All he’s gotten so far is $75.
Tennessee man who served 31 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit
is petitioning the state to compensate him $1 million for the years of
his life that were taken away. All he’s gotten so far is $75.
In
October 1977 a Memphis woman was raped in her home by two intruders.
She later identified one of them as her neighbor, Lawrence McKinney, who
was 22 at the time. He was convicted on rape and burglary charges in
1978 and sentenced to 115 years in jail.
October 1977 a Memphis woman was raped in her home by two intruders.
She later identified one of them as her neighbor, Lawrence McKinney, who
was 22 at the time. He was convicted on rape and burglary charges in
1978 and sentenced to 115 years in jail.
DNA
evidence cleared him of the charges in 2008, and when he was released
in 2009, the Tennessee Department of Corrections gave him a $75 check to
restart his life.
evidence cleared him of the charges in 2008, and when he was released
in 2009, the Tennessee Department of Corrections gave him a $75 check to
restart his life.
“Because I had no ID it took me three months before I was able to cash it,” McKinney told CNN.
Now
the 61-year-old is asking Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to exonerate him.
The Tennessee Board of Parole, which makes recommendations to the
governor, denied McKinney’s request by a 7-0 vote at a hearing in
September.
the 61-year-old is asking Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to exonerate him.
The Tennessee Board of Parole, which makes recommendations to the
governor, denied McKinney’s request by a 7-0 vote at a hearing in
September.
Board voted against McKinney’s exoneration
A
formal exoneration could open a pathway to $1 million in compensation
from the state Board of Claims for the decades McKinney was wrongfully
imprisoned.
formal exoneration could open a pathway to $1 million in compensation
from the state Board of Claims for the decades McKinney was wrongfully
imprisoned.
“The (parole) board
reviewed all relevant information related to the crime, conviction and
subsequent appeals, as well as all information provided by the
petitioner,” said Melissa McDonald, spokesperson for the Tennessee Board
of Parole. “After considering all of the evidence, the board did not
find clear and convincing evidence of innocence and declined to
recommend clemency in this matter.”
reviewed all relevant information related to the crime, conviction and
subsequent appeals, as well as all information provided by the
petitioner,” said Melissa McDonald, spokesperson for the Tennessee Board
of Parole. “After considering all of the evidence, the board did not
find clear and convincing evidence of innocence and declined to
recommend clemency in this matter.”
Lawrence McKinney, right, with one of his lawyers, Jack Lowery.
One of McKinney’s attorneys, Jack Lowery, believes the decision should rest solely with Haslam.
“The
parole board is not qualified to make these decisions and should not,”
he said. “For the parole board to step in when many (of them) are not
trained in the law is ridiculous.”
parole board is not qualified to make these decisions and should not,”
he said. “For the parole board to step in when many (of them) are not
trained in the law is ridiculous.”
‘Only the strong survive’
According
to John Hunn, McKinney’s pastor and most ardent supporter, the board
cited a list of 97 infractions that McKinney incurred while he was in
jail, including the alleged assault of a fellow inmate, who testified
against McKinney at the hearing. McKinney told the board he’d been in
prison for years, and that “only the strong survive,” Hunn said. Hunn
testified at the hearing on McKinney’s behalf.
to John Hunn, McKinney’s pastor and most ardent supporter, the board
cited a list of 97 infractions that McKinney incurred while he was in
jail, including the alleged assault of a fellow inmate, who testified
against McKinney at the hearing. McKinney told the board he’d been in
prison for years, and that “only the strong survive,” Hunn said. Hunn
testified at the hearing on McKinney’s behalf.
“Lawrence has told that story at our church,” Hunn said. “He doesn’t deny that story. He was in prison, man.”
The
parole board also knew that 28 years into his sentence, McKinney
admitted to the burglary charge he was convicted of. McKinney said his
lawyers at the time told him that if he wanted any chance of being
released early, he would need to admit to something.
parole board also knew that 28 years into his sentence, McKinney
admitted to the burglary charge he was convicted of. McKinney said his
lawyers at the time told him that if he wanted any chance of being
released early, he would need to admit to something.
His last chance
While
he and his team are optimistic, McKinney knows this is his final
opportunity for exoneration. This is his second attempt; he initially
tried in 2010, but then-Gov. Phil Bredesen never acted on the board’s
recommendation against exoneration before leaving office. When Haslam
became governor, McKinney was given the opportunity to apply again.
he and his team are optimistic, McKinney knows this is his final
opportunity for exoneration. This is his second attempt; he initially
tried in 2010, but then-Gov. Phil Bredesen never acted on the board’s
recommendation against exoneration before leaving office. When Haslam
became governor, McKinney was given the opportunity to apply again.
According
to McDonald, Tennessee’s governors have granted two exonerations in the
past 16 years, and both were in January 2011, just over a week before
Bredesen vacated the governor’s mansion.
to McDonald, Tennessee’s governors have granted two exonerations in the
past 16 years, and both were in January 2011, just over a week before
Bredesen vacated the governor’s mansion.
‘I just want to be treated right and fair’
Since
his release, Hunn said, McKinney has worked hard to put his life back
together and salvage the time he has left. In 2010 he married a pen pal
with whom he corresponded during his time in jail. The two attend
Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, where McKinney
participates in a Bible study five nights a week and where he has found a
supportive community that has rallied around him time and time again.
his release, Hunn said, McKinney has worked hard to put his life back
together and salvage the time he has left. In 2010 he married a pen pal
with whom he corresponded during his time in jail. The two attend
Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, where McKinney
participates in a Bible study five nights a week and where he has found a
supportive community that has rallied around him time and time again.
“Although
I’ve spent more than half of my life locked up for a crime I did not
do, I am not bitter or angry at anyone, because I have found the Lord
and married a good wife,” McKinney said. “All I ask is that I be treated
right and fair for what has happened to me. I didn’t do nothing, and I
just want to be treated right.”
I’ve spent more than half of my life locked up for a crime I did not
do, I am not bitter or angry at anyone, because I have found the Lord
and married a good wife,” McKinney said. “All I ask is that I be treated
right and fair for what has happened to me. I didn’t do nothing, and I
just want to be treated right.”
source- CNN
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