Archived Movable Type Content

May 13, 2004

Florida fights to keep innocent man jailed

Via Florida Politics, The Daytona Beach News-Journal tells thestory of an innocent man who is serving time because the state will not admit to a mistake. Our criminal justice system is full of stories like this. Is it any wonder that enlightened groups like The International Democratic People’s Uhuru Movement are calling for reform?

If you think the mission of our justice system is to seek out the truth, try telling that to Wilton Dedge. He has spent the last 22 years, more than half his life, locked in prison. The great state of Florida wants to keep him there, despite the strongest scientific evidence that Dedge didn't commit the rape for which he was convicted.

For three years, prosecutors have known about a DNA test that pointed toward a different assailant, yet they have vigorously opposed any efforts to free Dedge or get him a new trial.

Just last month, an assistant attorney general told incredulous appellate judges that Dedge's guilt or innocence was irrelevant. The issue, she said, was the timing -- not the outcome -- of the DNA test.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Editorials

The Justice Project

International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement

Posted by Norwood at May 13, 2004 09:11 AM
Comments

That's a Miami Herald editorial, reprinted by the Daytona Beach paper. Get your Carl Hiaasen straight from the source (see link).

Posted by: Dirk Pitt at May 18, 2004 05:38 PM

That's a Miami Herald editorial, reprinted by the Daytona Beach paper. Get your Carl Hiaasen straight from the source (see link).

Posted by: Dirk Pitt at May 18, 2004 05:38 PM