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Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
Tue May 3, 2016, 12:43 AM May 2016

Man Convicted of Brooklyn Murder Exonerated After 52 Years

Source: NBC News

Come November, 81-year-old Paul Gatling will get to do something that many Americans take for granted —he'll get to vote for a presidential candidate.

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson vacated Gatling's 1964 murder conviction on Monday and restored his rights, including his right to vote.

"I want my name cleared," Gatling told NBC News before Thompson made it official. "Most of all, I just want to vote before I die."

The delighted Gatling said his only regret is that President Obama won't be on the ballot.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-convicted-brooklyn-murder-exonerated-after-52-years-n566076

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Judi Lynn

(160,218 posts)
1. My god. Poor, poor man. 52 years behind bars without having committed the crime.
Tue May 3, 2016, 12:59 AM
May 2016

Here's hoping that somehow this man will find peace in what is left of what would have been his life.

Thank you, so much, for posting this.

Best wishes to Paul Gatling.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
2. His sentence was commuted in 1974, but not vacated
Tue May 3, 2016, 01:37 AM
May 2016

So he spent 10 years in prison, but the conviction has still been following him around since it was never overturned.

Peace Patriot

(24,010 posts)
4. This ought to be rubbed in the nose of anyone who supports the death penalty.
Tue May 3, 2016, 02:22 AM
May 2016

What if he had been sentenced to death? Huh? HUH?

Jeez. These people.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
6. There's another down side to their claims as well
Tue May 3, 2016, 08:51 AM
May 2016

Supporters of the DP also often claim that having a death penalty helps gain convictions from people who plead to life in prison rather than face the DP. The obvious problem with that is people like this man who have little choice.

But they don't seem to care much about the innocent people who are victimized so long as they get their pound of flesh.

Festivito

(13,452 posts)
5. Plead under threat of death penalty.
Tue May 3, 2016, 04:15 AM
May 2016

White jury. White pregnant lady identifies him (after not being sure at first).

Rest is not in article.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
7. But, According To Fat Tony. . .
Tue May 3, 2016, 08:51 AM
May 2016

. . .he should have stayed in jail because proof of innocence should not negate a properly adjudicated case.

So, per Scalia, this guy shouldn't have been let out, even in 1974.

That has to be correct, because Scalia was such a genius!

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
8. Time to rethink putting people in cages, let alone the death penalty.
Tue May 3, 2016, 09:14 AM
May 2016

I'm not proud of what my country does to human beings. And that goes far beyond this depressing case.

surrealAmerican

(11,340 posts)
9. If we ever do get the opportunity to pass a new voting rights act ...
Tue May 3, 2016, 09:52 AM
May 2016

... this should be part of it: no more lifetime bans for people convicted of crimes.

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