After 34 years in prison for a charge he did not commit, the US judiciary released a black-skinned prisoner in the US state of Florida, sparking a great human rights celebration.
Sydney Holmes, 57, was arrested in 1988 on charges of participating in an armed robbery of an American family, in Proud County, a charge attached to Holmes despite the lack of sufficient evidence to convict, according to American jurists.
Sidney Holmes, 57, cries after he was exonerated in a Broward County courtroom on Monday
According to the report issued by the Conviction Review Unit of the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office “Proud”Holmes was sentenced to 400 years in prison, although prosecutors at the time demanded that he be tried for 825 years, but the decision was issued the following year to be only 400, according to AJ + Network.
The Attorney General at the time, Peter Magreno, said that he did not request a life sentence so that Holmes would not be able to obtain parole after 25 years and to ensure that he would not be released throughout his life, according to Al Jazeera Net.
In 2020, the prisoner unjustly communicated with the Conviction Review Unit, and sent a letter denying the charge on his own behalf, in which he said that he “Innocent on the facts” of the armed robbery he was accused of.
Accordingly, a thorough investigation was re-conducted, and Proud County District Attorney Harald Breyer confirmed the existence of “Reasonable doubts” On the veracity of Holmes’ conviction, and concludes on Holmes’ innocence, he said: “This man shouldn’t be in prison, and we need to get him out now.”
Sidney Holmes is pictured smiling after the decision to exonerate him
Sydney Holmes will be released on the 13th of March, amid widespread interaction on American social media and the human rights community.
Imagine spending 34 years in prison for a crime you didn’t commit 💔 Sidney Holmes faced a 400 year sentence, and today, he’s a free man. #CBSNews #CBSNewsMiami @CBSMiami pic.twitter.com/tT3O5MNvY9
— Gabby Arzola (@GabrielleArzola) March 14, 2023
