US To Compensate Man With N540m, For Jailing Him Wrongfully

An American man from Kansas, Lamonte McIntyre, who was made to serve 23 years in jail when he was only 17 years old after he was wrongfully convicted for the murders of Donald Ewing and Doniel Quinn back in 1994, has been awarded $1.5 million (N540m) as a statutory payment.

Some other benefits, Mcintrye would enjoy is access to state health care benefits for two years and he will receive a tuition waiver if he decides to attend postsecondary school.

In 1994, Mcintrye was arrested for the murders of the victims, who were shot during the day in their car.

However, no evidence or motive connecting him to the crime existed, but he was still convicted.

When he was released from prison in 2017, he filed a suit against Kansas state charging the state for compensation, for wrongful conviction and imprisonment.

Associated Press reported that some documents were made public during the fight to free McIntyre. The documents alleged that the prosecutor in charge of the case intimidated witnesses who told her that McIntyre did not have any resemblance to the suspect.

Also, it was alleged that at the presiding judge of the case at the time had once had a previous romantic relationship, which was kept hidden at the time.

Leading to his fight for justice, McIntyre became the co-founder of the Miracle of Innocence, an organization that helps others who have been wrongfully convicted.