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Seasoned Vet
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What do you think he deserves?
Now, . . . what do you think you would deserve if it was you???
Man to Be Pardoned After Serving 27 Years
By Tom Stuckey
Associated Press Writer
November 1, 2003, 8:23 AM EST
ANNAPOLIS, Md. quote:
Gov. Robert Ehrlich announced he will grant a pardon to a man who served 27 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned almost two years ago.
Ehrlich said Friday that a lengthy review of the records of the trial convinced him that Michael Austin "served 27 years for a crime he did not commit." Austin had been convicted of the 1974 killing of a convenience store security guard.
"I talked to him today. I apologized to him, although words were very difficult to come by," the governor said.
Ehrlich also said he thinks Austin should get some compensation from the state for the years he spent in prison, but said he doesn't have a figure in mind.
"What's a year worth? What's a month worth? What's 27 years worth?" the governor asked.
The "full and complete" pardon given to Austin, Baltimore resident, will allow him to seek compensation from the state. The decision on whether to give him money and how much will be made by the Board of Public Works, which includes the governor, Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and Treasurer Nancy Kopp.
Larry Nathans, the lawyer who represents Austin, said he and Austin talked to Ehrlich Friday morning.
"He felt very good about it. He was personally touched that the governor had spent so much time looking at the matter and that the governor personally called him," Nathans said.
Austin was convicted of killing Roy Kellam at an East Baltimore store.
His arrest was based on a mug-shot identification by a clerk at the market who told detectives at the scene that the shooter was a light-skinned black man, about 5-foot-8. Austin is 6-foot-5 and dark-skinned.
The only physical evidence against Austin was a wallet card that had scribbled on it the name of an alleged accomplice, a man who was later freed by police after they said they had the wrong man.
Austin's attorney failed to subpoena witnesses or a timecard from Austin's employer, which would have shown that he worked the day of the killing.
Judge John Carroll Byrnes, who overturned the conviction, said the defense attorney, who is now dead, was incompetent, the prosecution had committed errors and the trial judge have jurors faulty instructions.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-maryland-pardon,0,5802153.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
"I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. . . . . .
They've experienced pain and bought jewelry."
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Hard Charger
 
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DAMN!!! I wouldnt even know where to start on that one.
Take what he was making from his employer per year, prorate the yr he was imprisoned, times the rest by 26 yrs with allowance for promotions and cost of living? Free State Health care and LIfe Insurance for life?
More then likely not much of a compensation but it's a starting block to work off of. Getting in to the asspect of mental turmoil would be hell.
"Greater love than this hath no man, but that he should lay down his life for his friends."
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Hard Charger
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If i was locked up for 27 years and I was innocent????? 13bagazillion dollars wouldn't do it for me. I would still be pissed. I would take dough but I would be pissed.
How old is he now?
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President for Life
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Hard Charger
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quote:
So why did it take so long to overturn the conviction? Most of these jailbirds flood the court systems with writs and appeals
.
Good question Ertman, from reading the article it sounds like a no brainer to me.
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Keep the Peace and Be of Good Behavior
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Sounds like 27 years of lost wages, family seperation, pain and suffering, mental anguish, claims against the state, his attorney's estate (if possible), etc etc etc...
With the sums we are talking about here, he won't have to settle for an incompetent attorney this time.
I always hope that guys like this get huge awards instead of the stupid things people get 100 mil for these days.
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Seasoned Vet
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From what I understand from this article, you have to be pardoned before you can collect from the state.
Why is that?
Lost wages over a 27 yeard period.
Pain and suffering, because that's one thing that is guarenteed in prison. In cases were a person is convicted of a crime he/she did'nt commit, I think a pardon is an understatment. Why did he need to be pardoned? I think this is one of the instances were the criminal record should be wiped, from every system.
Even with a full pardon, he could still be excluded from certain things, atleast here in PA that's how it works.
Evil Unchecked Grows, and Evil Tolerated Poisens The Entire System. Jahwal Nehru ------------------------------------------------------------- In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.
Mark Twain.
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President for Life
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