PHotograph by KC Cornell
A black man who has spent the last 26 years on death row after being wrongly convicted of murder by an all-white jury has been freed in Louisiana.
Glenn Ford, 64, was convicted in 1984 for shooting and killing jeweller Isadore Rozeman, for whom Ford did occasional work. Ford has always denied the murder, but has been on death row for the crime since 23 August 1988.
Despite his protests of innocence, and little evidence to support his conviction, he remained on death row until prosecutors recently received:
“Credible evidence” that Ford “was neither present at, nor a participant in, the robbery and murder”
State district judge Ramona Emanuel voided Ford’s conviction after she was presented with the new evidence.
In an interview with CNN as he was released, Ford said he did not feel bitter for his wrongful conviction, but did feel “resentment” over losing thirty years of his life. Asked by the same reporter how it feels to be released, Ford said:
“My mind’s going all kinds of directions, but it feels good”
A statement from Ford’s lawyers added:
“We are very pleased to see Glenn Ford finally exonerated, and we are particularly grateful that the prosecution and the court moved ahead so decisively to set Mr Ford free.”
