Last week forty-two , Demarlo Antwan berry, who was imprisoned for a few years longer than he lived outside prison, was released. It turned out that the crime for which he was convicted, namely the murder of the Manager of the restaurant chain quick service Carl’s Jr., was committed by another person.
If not for the confession of the true perpetrator, Steven Jackson, Demarlo berry was supposed to serve a life sentence without the right to parole. In addition to the killing of Charles Burks, he was convicted of burglary and robbery of a Carl’s Jr. The incident occurred in 1994 in Las Vegas.
On that fateful day, berry not lucky enough to be at the wrong time and wrong place. He was standing on a nearby sidewalk at the exact moment when an armed Jackson ran out of robbed the restaurant and shot the Manager.
Arrived at the scene, police interviewed the witness, and when he confused Jackson with Demarlo, law enforcement officers arrested the latter. A speedy trial didn’t turn out in favor of the accused.
However, lawyer berry, Samantha Wilcox, which with 2011 together with a non-profit organization The Rocky Mountain Innocence Center provides legal assistance on a free basis, was able to prove to the court that her client is «clean».
This amazing team worked tirelessly to ensure that DeMarlo Berry could be reunited w/his family after 22 years of wrongful conviction pic.twitter.com/LZls0eYSCV
— RMIC (@RMInnocenceCtr) July 4, 2017
«This amazing team have worked tirelessly to provide for Demarlo berry the opportunity to reconnect with his family after 22 years of wrongful conviction».
Wilcox contacted Jackson, who in 2013 decided to admit his guilt for the death of Berks. He is now serving a life sentence in a California prison for another murder committed a few years later, in 1996.
In addition, the organization sought out Richard Eden, a former Jailhouse informant who recanted his testimony that berry allegedly confessed to him to killing the Manager.
DeMarlo Welcome home Berry! After 22 yrs in prison after being wrongfully accused… We did it! pic.twitter.com/vdstGaeWPW
— RMIC (@RMInnocenceCtr) June 30, 2017
«Welcome home, Demarlo berry! After 22 years in prison as the result of wrongful accusations… We did it!»
As for DeMarco, he called his release “surreal”. All this time his freedom was waiting for his wife Odile. Now the couple, married seven years ago in a prison cell for a date, again living together.
In fact, berry has its own «skeletons in the closet»: prior to his arrest he sold drugs. However, more serious crimes it is not listed.
The man already has a to-do list for life. He just have to learn to use a mobile phone, a computer and the Internet. He also wants to go to train in a Barber shop (licensed he managed to get in prison) and again to explore Las Vegas during his «absence» has grown considerably and much has changed.
Berry doesn’t know yet whether it will sue in court for his wrongful conviction and imprisonment. He said he’s not mad.
“Forgiveness is probably the big word. I just want to continue living. I have a second chance in life, and I will seize the opportunity,” says Demarle.
It is worth adding that Nevada is one of 18 States that do not provide compensation money for wrongfully convicted and recently released prisoners.
