Judge throws out murder convictions, releases men who have served 24 years in prison

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A judge in New York State on Friday threw out the murder convictions of three men who had served 24 years in prison.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas rebuked prosecutors for withholding evidence in the 1996 case that could cast doubt on George Bell’s guilt, 44, Gary JohnsonGary Earl Johnson On The Trail: Making sense of Super Poll Sunday Polarized campaign leaves little room for hopeful third parties The Memo: Trump keeps narrow path to victory MORE, 46, and Rohan Bolt 59, all of whom were found guilty of the murders of retired NYPD police officer Charles Davis and Ira “Mike” Epstein.

According to multiple reports, prosecutors in the case did not file any police reports linking the murders to other men who were part of a local robbery ring.

“The prosecutor’s office deliberately withheld from the defense credible third-party guilt information that proves that others committed these crimes. This exculpatory information was in the prosecution’s possession and had in fact been investigated and documented by the lead prosecutor. on Mr. Bell’s trial, ”Zayas said according to CNN.

He also stated that the prosecution had “completely relinquished his truth-seeking role in these cases,” the reports said.

Five witnesses reportedly reported the crime in 1996 that directly contradicted the men’s confessions.

Lawyers stated they believed Johnson, Bell and Bolt’s confessions were being coerced, according to multiple reports.

Current Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz also agreed with Zayas to throw out the convictions, but stated that more research will be done to establish guilt or innocence.

“I cannot support these convictions,” Katz said in a statement Friday, according to The New York Times. “However, there is insufficient evidence of actual innocence at this time, so we are taking this opportunity to re-evaluate and re-examine the evidence.”

Bell, Bolt and Johnson were all released on Friday on their own admission and will return to court in June to determine whether or not they will be fully acquitted. Prosecutors have requested that the case be further investigated, CNN said.

“Today is the day I found the key. Today is the day, today is the day, today is the day, I’m going home,” Bell said in a video conference Friday.

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