BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) — A Baltimore man was freed Wednesday after spending practically 17 years in jail for a homicide he didn’t commit, Baltimore Metropolis State’s Legal professional Marilyn Mosby stated.
David Morris was sentenced to life in jail with all however 50 years suspended after he was convicted within the 2004 homicide of Mustafa Carter. In 2018, the State’s Legal professional’s Conviction Integrity Unit took a more in-depth have a look at the case in response to considerations from the Innocence Venture. The CIU’s overview discovered exculpatory proof was found earlier than Morris’ trial however by no means disclosed.
READ MORE: ATM Stolen After Van Smashes Through Baltimore Walgreens
In an announcement, Mosby stated Morris’ case is an instance of the “deeply damaging nature of the historic failures of the legal justice system” and her company’s obligation to proper earlier wrongs.
“On behalf of the State, let me lengthen my sincerest apologies to Mr. Morris and his household for the unspeakable trauma inflicted upon him because of this wrongful conviction,” Mosby stated. “To the household of Mr. Carter, we’ll proceed to make use of every little thing our arsenal to search out your son’s killers.”
RELATED: Mosby Publishes ‘Do Not Call’ List Of Officers With Credibility Issues | See Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Complete ‘Do Not Call’ List
READ MORE: Supply Chain Issues: How Global Shortages Are Affecting Consumers Nationwide
In accordance with the State’s Legal professional’s Workplace, investigators recognized one other suspect within the case, however that data wasn’t supplied to Morris’ protection. A number of different components – together with DNA proof taken from Carter’s pants that might have dominated out Morris as a suspect and contradictory data from the only real witness – indicated “Morris was not concerned,” the company stated partially.
Apart from the proof, the CIU overview decided the arresting officer had been accused of misconduct, which Mosby’s workplace stated ought to have been disclosed to Morris’ protection attorneys. The officer, Michael Nelson, was among those published in Mosby’s “Do Not Call” list of officers with credibility points.
Michele Nethercott, an legal professional for the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Venture and the previous director of the College of Baltimore Innocence Venture Clinic, stated the group was gratified with the end result.
“The proof at (Morris’) trial was extremely weak and our post-conviction investigation unearthed much more proof supporting his longstanding declare of innocence,” Nethercott stated. “We’re grateful to Mr. Carter’s household for helping within the investigation regardless of the ache it should have precipitated.”
MORE NEWS: Lexington Market Issues Call For Final Round Of Vendor Applications, Has Up To 10 Remaining Slots
In 2015, Mosby overhauled the CIU, Maryland’s first such unit, tasking prosecutors with trying into claims of precise innocence and wrongful convictions. Since then, the CIU has exonerated a complete of 11 people who served a mixed 280 years behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit.
