Marvin Haynes, 36, walked free on Monday after a Minnesota judge overturned his wrongful conviction for a 2004 murder. Haynes had always maintained his innocence and spent nearly two decades fighting for justice.
Haynes' conviction relied heavily on eyewitness testimony, but lacked any forensic evidence. Prosecutors now acknowledge that charging Haynes based solely on unreliable eyewitness accounts was a mistake.
"We inflicted harm on Mr. Haynes and his family, and also on the victim, his family, and the community," said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. "We cannot undo the trauma experienced, but today we have taken a step toward righting this wrong."
Haynes expressed his gratitude after his release, thanking his family, lawyers, and the current district attorney's office for their support.
"It took 19 years but I'm here," he said. "I just wanna move forward and get my life back. That's it."
The exoneration of Haynes underscores the importance of reliable evidence in criminal prosecutions. This case serves as a reminder that wrongful convictions can have devastating consequences for individuals and their families.
While the Sherer family still maintains the initial eyewitness identification was correct, Haynes' release marks a victory for justice and a chance for him to rebuild his life after a long and wrongful imprisonment.
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