dude gets $14 million after spending 18 years in prison

[dallaskd]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17075302/?GT1=9033

NEW ORLEANS - A federal jury awarded $14 million Friday to a former death row inmate who came within weeks of execution but was exonerated.

John Thompson, 40, maintained through 18 years in prison that he was innocent of killing hotel executive Ray Liuzza, 34, during a robbery in December 1984.

In 1999, weeks before Thompson was to die, a defense investigator found a crime lab report that cleared him of the robbery charge. The blood type of the robber, found on the victim’s pants, did not match Thompson’s.

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worth it?

[mavs>spurs2]

He's not the first person to ever be wrongfully accused.

[ThomasGranger]

If I spent 18 prime years of life in prison (and probably most of them on death row) I wouldn't feel compensated for $14,000,000, or even twice that. So if I'm that guy, I'm thinking no it wasn't worth it.

[lil'mo]

He's not the first person to ever be wrongfully accused.

if by accused you mean convicted and sentenced to death

[E20]

There was this Canadian dude who was mistaken for a terrorist and spent some odd number of years in a Lebanese prison where he was like tortured or something. He got 50 million USD. So, what I'm thinking is someone frame me for murder and let me spend sometime in prison then someone whip out the evidence and I'll make bank.

[baseline bum]

There is no amount of money that could ever make me want to spend a year in a prison, much less 18. The pen sure as ain't county jail.

[dallaskd]

$14 millionn sure is alot. poor guy. hopefully with that money he can live a good life. he will never get to be married and raise children.

[MannyIsGod]

Well considering the government gets half of that back via taxes, then you have the cut the lawyers take, you're looking at maybe 5-6 million for 18 years of your life. 300k a year or so for living in a prison? no thats not even CLOSE to worth it.

[dallaskd]

at least hes out.

[RobinsontoDuncan]

I dont think the government can tax that, a lawsuit won against the government for wrongful imprisonment...that's tax free

[mookie2001]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17075302/?GT1=9033

NEW ORLEANS - A federal jury awarded $14 million Friday to a former death row inmate who came within weeks of execution but was exonerated.

John Thompson, 40, maintained through 18 years in prison that he was innocent of killing hotel executive Ray Liuzza, 34, during a robbery in December 1984.

In 1999, weeks before Thompson was to die, a defense investigator found a crime lab report that cleared him of the robbery charge. The blood type of the robber, found on the victim’s pants, did not match Thompson’s.

-------------

worth it?

A judge resentenced Thompson to live in prison without parole, but the murder conviction stood until a state appeals court overturned it and ordered a new trial. Thompson was found not guilty in the retrial.

Jurors in the civil trial ordered the Orleans Parish and several current and former prosecutors to pay Thompson, said Gordon Cooney. Along with fellow attorney Michael Banks, Cooney worked 14 years to have Thompson retried and acquitted.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[mookie2001]

so he got out in 2002-3???