Florida lawmakers pass bill giving wrongly convicted man who spent 34 years behind bars $1.7 million

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers came unneurotic to close a incorrect aft a Broward County antheral was wrongly imprisoned for a transgression helium did not commit, and spent 34 years successful prison.

When Sidney Holmes stood, each Florida authorities senator, and successful the House, each representative, faced him to cheer.

Holmes was initially released 2 years ago.

“I cognize this time was going to travel sooner oregon aboriginal and contiguous is the day,” helium said astatine the time.

He was 23 years aged successful 1989, convicted of equipped robbery extracurricular a Fort Lauderdale convenience store and sentenced to 400 years successful prison.

Convicted contempt a deficiency of carnal evidence, contempt his alibi and contempt maintaining that helium was innocent.

“Unfortunately nary 1 believed him,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of the Innocence Project of Florida.

No 1 believed him until successful 2023 the Broward State Attorney’s Office condemnation reappraisal portion reached a antithetic conclusion.

“Ultimately each of america came to the aforesaid decision that this antheral was wrongfully convicted, that this antheral shouldn’t person been successful situation and we needed to get him retired close now,” said Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor.

At 57 years old, aft surviving down bars for 34 of those years, Holmes was free.

Earlier this week, the authorities compensated him for its life-altering error.

Passing the Florida House and Senate unanimously was a $1.7 cardinal claims measure for Holmes.

“I privation to apologize and accidental arsenic acold arsenic we tin connection you this slightest of gestures,” said State Sen. Jason Pizzo.

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