Man Found Innocent After 30 Years In Prison

A US man who spent nearly 30 years in prison for kidnapping, rape, and robbery has been declared innocent and freed.

Gerardo Cabanillas was exonerated with the help of DNA testing in a 1995 attack on a couple sitting in a parked car in the city of South Gate in California, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office announced.

Mr. Cabanillas’ case was reexamined by the Conviction Integrity Unit of the DA’s office and last week a judge reversed his conviction, found him factually innocent, and ordered his permanent release.

“I extend my deepest apologies to Mr Cabanillas for the miscarriage of justice and the failure of our criminal legal system,” district attorney George Gascon said in a statement.

Mr Cabanillas was convicted in 1996 and spent 28 years in prison.

Sky News reported that victims of the attacks were told of his confession and identified Mr Cabanillas from photo lineups, but they later expressed doubts in court and said they were pressured into identifying him. Meanwhile, DNA testing on the rape kit showed two other people committed the assault.

No other suspects were ever arrested, though one man later confessed to committing one of the crimes.

Skynews