INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

New York City Agrees To Pay Man $6.5 Million Who Was Wrongfully Convicted Of 1989 Slaying

By Angelica N. Sumter
Published on: 08:21 PST, Jun 25, 2015

New York City has agreed to pay $6.5 million to a man who spent 24 years and 8 months in prison for a crime he did not commit, according to the International Business Times.

When 51-year-old Jonathan Fleming returned home to Brooklyn, New York, after vacationing in Orlando, Florida, in 1989, he was immediately taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder of his 22-year-old childhood friend, Daryl Rush.

Although there were receipts, video footage, and photos to prove his innocence, Fleming was found guilty of murder after an eyewitness claimed to have seen him shoot the victim dead.

Decades later, the witness recanted her testimony. She later stated that she was forced to give a false testimony to avoid going back to jail, as she was already on parole during that time, CNN reported.

At a later date, prosecutors also admitted to having a receipt that proved Fleming was at a hotel in Florida during the time of the murder, which was never shown during his trial.

After a “careful and thorough review of this case, and based on key alibi facts that place Fleming in Florida at the time of the murder,” Judge Matthew D’Emic decided to make Fleming a free man in April, 2014.

“As you can imagine, after sitting in jail for 25 years for a crime he didn’t commit, he can’t help but feel vindicated,” said Anthony Mayol, who is one of Fleming’s attorney’s.

“On the flip side, that’s 25 years that have been stolen, that he’ll never get back.”

“Today was a day of great joy and great sadness for Jonathan Fleming … His mother is close to death, as the result of a grave illness.”

Two months after his release, he filed a lawsuit against New York City and former Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes for wrongfully convicting an innocent man.

A year later, New York City agreed to pay him $6.5 million.

“We cannot give back the time that he served, but the city of New York can offer Jonathan Fleming this compensation for the injustice that was committed against him,” said Scott Stringer.

“The swift settlement will enable Jonathan and his family to build a new life without the painful and costly prospect of further litigation,” said attorney Paul Callan.

New York attorney Kenneth Thompson stated that he was “clearly wrongfully convicted” and “no amount of money will ever give him back that time.”

[Image courtesy of Mario Tama / Getty Images]

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