By Innocent man who spent 39 years in prison gets name cleared
Walter Lomax, 67, cleared of murder charges
UPDATED 5:31 PM EDT Apr 02, 2014
Man who spent decades in prison gets name cleared
Imagine sitting in a prison cell every day for 39 years.
You're alone. You miss family members' life milestones. You're not even sure what day it is, and the whole time you're locked up you know you're innocent. That's what one man had to endure for decades and now, clearing his name is matter of public record.
Walter Lomax, 67, spent more than two-thirds of his life in prison for a murder he did not commit.
The process of clearing his name began in 2006 when he was released from jail after a closer look at his case. On Wednesday afternoon, all of the charges were officially dropped.
"With the court's decision today, I literally feel free after almost half a century," Lomax said. "It has been extremely difficult as one can imagine. I just turned 20 when I was arrested, so I spent two-thirds of my life in there."
It was back in 1968 when a then 20-year-old Lomax was convicted of murdering 56-year-old Robert Brewer who was working as a convenience store manager at a store in south Baltimore.
Lomax would remain in jail for 39 years until Circuit Judge Gale Rasin commuted his sentence to time served in 2006 citing problems with race and police misconduct and overwhelming evidence never introduced that showed, in her mind, he did not commit the crime.
Now more than eight years after this decision, Judge Charles Peters granted what's called an "actual innocence petition" and ordered a new trial.
The State's Attorney's Office agreed with Rasin's findings then dropped the charges against Lomax.
One of his attorneys, Billy Murphy, said cross racial identification played a big role in the case.
"Dr. King had just been assassinated in 1968; racial tensions were at an all-time high. Then, the riots came all over the country and here in Baltimore, and that didn't make it easy for Walter Lomax to have a fair trial," Murphy said.
Lomax's sister, Carolyn Lomax, joined her brother on the Mitchell Courthouse steps told reporters she never gave up on her brother.
"I had to stay strong because I knew he didn't do it. That's why I stayed strong. I knew he didn't do it," Carolyn Lomax said.
Now, Walter Lomax said it's time to finally start living life.
"Close to a century, something my family members and I have waited for. I've finally been vindicated," Lomax said.
No one from the murder victim's family was in court Wednesday or available for comment.
Lomax and his attorneys made it clear though they do feel for Brewer's family as the person who actually did murder him, got away with it.
Read more:http://www.wbaltv.com/news/innocent-man-who-spent-39-years-in-prison-gets-name-cleared/25289206#ixzz2xlT10dpS
Innocent man who spent 39 years in prison gets name cleared
Walter Lomax, 67, cleared of murder charges
UPDATED 5:31 PM EDT Apr 02, 2014
Man who spent decades in prison gets name cleared
Imagine sitting in a prison cell every day for 39 years.
You're alone. You miss family members' life milestones. You're not even sure what day it is, and the whole time you're locked up you know you're innocent. That's what one man had to endure for decades and now, clearing his name is matter of public record.
Walter Lomax, 67, spent more than two-thirds of his life in prison for a murder he did not commit.
The process of clearing his name began in 2006 when he was released from jail after a closer look at his case. On Wednesday afternoon, all of the charges were officially dropped.
"With the court's decision today, I literally feel free after almost half a century," Lomax said. "It has been extremely difficult as one can imagine. I just turned 20 when I was arrested, so I spent two-thirds of my life in there."
It was back in 1968 when a then 20-year-old Lomax was convicted of murdering 56-year-old Robert Brewer who was working as a convenience store manager at a store in south Baltimore.
Lomax would remain in jail for 39 years until Circuit Judge Gale Rasin commuted his sentence to time served in 2006 citing problems with race and police misconduct and overwhelming evidence never introduced that showed, in her mind, he did not commit the crime.
Now more than eight years after this decision, Judge Charles Peters granted what's called an "actual innocence petition" and ordered a new trial.
The State's Attorney's Office agreed with Rasin's findings then dropped the charges against Lomax.
One of his attorneys, Billy Murphy, said cross racial identification played a big role in the case.
"Dr. King had just been assassinated in 1968; racial tensions were at an all-time high. Then, the riots came all over the country and here in Baltimore, and that didn't make it easy for Walter Lomax to have a fair trial," Murphy said.
Lomax's sister, Carolyn Lomax, joined her brother on the Mitchell Courthouse steps told reporters she never gave up on her brother.
"I had to stay strong because I knew he didn't do it. That's why I stayed strong. I knew he didn't do it," Carolyn Lomax said.
Now, Walter Lomax said it's time to finally start living life.
"Close to a century, something my family members and I have waited for. I've finally been vindicated," Lomax said.
No one from the murder victim's family was in court Wednesday or available for comment.
Lomax and his attorneys made it clear though they do feel for Brewer's family as the person who actually did murder him, got away with it.
Read more:http://www.wbaltv.com/news/innocent-man-who-spent-39-years-in-prison-gets-name-cleared/25289206#ixzz2xlT10dpS
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