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Richey to be freed on Monday |
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Friday, 04 January 2008 |
Scottish prisoner Kenny Richey, who has spent more than 20 years on death row in Ohio, is now expected to be released on Monday.
Richey had been preparing to mount a defence in a forthcoming retrial
following a federal court decision in August that his 1987 capital
conviction was unsound and should be overturned.
Instead, it was announced last month that a deal had been struck that
would allow the Edinburgh man to be released after a brief court
hearing at which he would plead "no contest".
That hearing, on 20 December, had to be postponed when Richey was taken
ill hours before he was expected to walk free and return to Edinburgh
in time for Christmas. The hearing has been rescheduled for Monday at
6pm UK time.
Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: "We’re delighted for
Kenny and his family and supporters that freedom is now so close. It
has been too long coming.
"The death penalty is always a human rights outrage, achieving nothing
but suffering and injustice, and in this case Kenny suffered from
particularly shoddy justice.
"Kenny Richey’s 20-year ordeal came after a flawed trial and serious
concerns about the Ohio justice system. He now joins the ranks of those
released from American death row prisons when they should never have
been there in the first place.
"We were all concerned when Kenny was taken ill just before Christmas.
Going forward, he should get all the support he needs to help him to
rebuild his life."
Richey was convicted of arson and murder in the state of Ohio and
sentenced to death on 27 January 1987. He has always protested his
innocence.
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