Arizona Death Row Inmate Wrongly Convicted Finally Returns Home After 29 Years in Prison

Barry Lee Jones, a man who was sentenced to death in 1995 for the murder of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter, has been ordered to be released from prison after nearly three decades behind bars according to People News.

Arizona Death Row Inmate Wrongly Convicted Finally Returns Home After 29 Years in Prison (PHOTO: People)

Arizona Death Row Inmate Wrongly Convicted

The Arizona state prosecutors, after reevaluating medical evidence, agreed that Jones did not commit the crime he was convicted of.

Jones, now 64 years old, was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual assault, and child abuse in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s daughter in 1994. The prosecution claimed that Jones was responsible for the internal traumatic injuries that led to the girl’s death while she was under his care.

However, a recent court order cited by the Associated Press revealed that Jones accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder based on new medical evidence that proved he did not cause the girl’s injuries. The court order stated that Jones failed to seek medical care for the child the night before she died, despite being aware of her illness.

Jones and his legal team argued that his court-appointed lawyer at the time had not properly investigated and presented medical findings that contradicted the prosecution’s timeline. Retired investigator Andrew Sowards stated, “Our new medical evidence established that that injury could have been three, four, five days old, maybe even up to a week old.” In 2018, both the federal district court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that Jones deserved a new trial.

Unfortunately, in 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Jones, stating that federal courts did not have the power to review the case, even in the presence of evidence of innocence, as reported by the Arizona Republic.

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Arizona Death Row Inmate

During his time on death row, the Arizona Attorney General conducted an independent investigation into the case. Subsequently, the office decided to overturn Jones’ conviction and reached an agreement with his attorneys.

Sandman expressed hope that Jones would be able to enjoy the rest of his life in peace, surrounded by his family and friends.

The release of Barry Lee Jones brings attention to the flaws in the justice system and the importance of thorough investigations and the presentation of all relevant evidence in criminal cases. It serves as a reminder that the pursuit of justice should prioritize truth and fairness, even when it means rectifying long-standing mistakes.

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