But thank God for the discovery of DNA evidence in crime cases, which is making time spent on earth a little bit more equitable for people like Raymond Towler, 52, who is free today after serving 30 years in prison for a rape he did not commit.
We all know that no amount of cash nor apologies from Ohio officials can ever pay back Towler for the injustice he suffered.
Aside from his "lost" 30 years, Towler was wrongly convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl, so he was likely the victim of an especially brutal brand of prison justice handed out by fellow inmates for such crimes involving children.
But one would hope that at the age of 52, Towler can enjoy a few good years on the outside.
He took his first step in that direction yesterday, when leaving a courthouse in Cleveland after Judge Eileen A. Gallagher discussed recently discovered DNA evidence that absolved Towler of the rape and threw out his conviction of life in prison.
The judge even left the bench and approached the defense table to shake Towler's hand and offer a traditional Irish blessing. That must have been quite a scene.
As in most of these cases, the true heroes of the story are the good people of the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that uses DNA evidence to clear people convicted of crimes.
In the courtroom was another Innocence Project graduate, Clarence Elkins, who served seven years in prison for two rapes and a murder he did not commit. The Akron man won a $1.75 million settlement from the state for his wrongful conviction.
No one can predict what Towler will receive from the state, but I hope a nice chunk of it is donated to the Innocence Project for its work. Few organizations are more worthy of support.
30-Apr-10 - Now a year has passed and Grey's Anatomy star Aasha Davis sister's body has still not been found, but police think they've caught the woman's killer: her husband, Davis's brother-in-law, Lyle Herring, Sr., who was arrested Wednesday.
30-Apr-10 - Now a year has passed and Grey's Anatomy star Aasha Davis sister's body has still not been found, but police think they've caught the woman's killer: her husband, Davis's brother-in-law, Lyle Herring, Sr., who was arrested Wednesday.
29-Apr-10 - First, it was Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Then it was Madonna. Now Sandra Bullock has joined the collective of celebrities adopting black babies.
27-Apr-10 - Michael Jackson's mother has asked ex-daughter-in-law Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza and her four children to vacate the premises by next week.
26-Apr-10 - Radio show host Rush Limbaugh responded harshly to critics who have accused him of being seditious with his words. In other words, Limbaugh has been accused of causing acts of rebellion and disrespect for authority by those who are unhappy with the recent actions of the federal government.
23-Apr-10 - The police, county sheriff, and federal investigators are all investigating the death of white supremacist Richard Barrett, lawyer, white nationalist and self-proclaimed leader in the skinhead movement. Barrett's neighbors called the fire department when they noticed his home was ablaze. His body was found inside his Pearl, Miss., home on Thursday morning. Firemen discovered Barrett's body inside the home. Investigators initially speculated that it was likely the flames of hell that killed him. Okay, not really.
23-Apr-10 - One of the quietest members of the Jackson clan, oldest sister Rebbie, recently sat down with Matt Lauer on the 'Today' show to talk about coping with the death of her brother Michael.
22-Apr-10 - Allen E. Brown delivered an early Mother's Day present that no one in the family will ever forget. He is sending his mother, Tecora Brown, on a one-way trip to prison after telling authorities of her involvement in a New Jersey prostitution ring.
21-Apr-10 - The Arizona House of Representatives recently approved a provision requiring President Barack Obama to prove that he is a natural-born citizen before the state agrees to place him on the ballot in 2012. He must have his birth certificate approved by the state's attorney general in order to run in the next election.
20-Apr-10 - Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has reversed course, dropping voluntary manslaughter charges against the strip club manager charged in the death of A.J. Jewell, former fiance of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' cast member Kandi Burruss.
19-Apr-10 - Just when you thought he could not get any more ridiculous, last week hate radio host Rush Limbaugh talked about the eruption of the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano.
It's kind of spooky that this case should occur now because my thriller No Way Out about a black man accused of rape, is just about to be published (June 10th). And like this case, it hinges on dubious eyewitness identification as well as DNA evidence - albeit with some complicating factors.
..how many more will be released..and how many have died in prison waiting to prove their innocence.. or was sentenced to death for a crime they didn't do-before DNA...
..is it me or every time I read about a exoneration due to DNA..why is it always a blackman?
..the INJUSTICE of this nation's justice system has been FLAWED far to long..
..the state prosecution of this case-didn't care to do the RIGHT thing from the START- its just another check mark on their resume'..and any blackman will do, right? .. and apparently the defender's lawyer didn't care either..after all its just another blackman..
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By: David Kessler on 5/08/2010 1:43PM
It's kind of spooky that this case should occur now because my thriller No Way Out about a black man accused of rape, is just about to be published (June 10th). And like this case, it hinges on dubious eyewitness identification as well as DNA evidence - albeit with some complicating factors.
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By: Wilson on 5/09/2010 5:21PM
Thirty years behind bars for a crime he did not commit is a huge mistake. The ones who put him there should be put behind bars.
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By: Deut818 on 5/16/2010 5:28PM
..how shameful of this nation's justice system..
..how many more will be released..and how many have died in prison waiting to prove their innocence.. or was sentenced to death for a crime they didn't do-before DNA...
..is it me or every time I read about a exoneration due to DNA..why is it always a blackman?
..the INJUSTICE of this nation's justice system has been FLAWED far to long..
..the state prosecution of this case-didn't care to do the RIGHT thing from the START- its just another check mark on their resume'..and any blackman will do, right? .. and apparently the defender's lawyer didn't care either..after all its just another blackman..
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