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Wrongly Convicted Database Record
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Charge: |
Murder |
Sentence: |
25 yrs to life imprisonment |
Years Imprisoned: |
25 |
Year Crime: |
1991 |
Year Convicted: |
1992 |
Year Cleared: |
2016 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
New York |
County or Region of Crime: |
Kings |
City of Crime: |
New York City |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated |
Summary of Case: |
"Andre Hatchett was wrongly convicted in 1992 of a 1991 murder convicted in Brooklyn, New York. Hatchett was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. In January newly elected Kings County District Attorney Ken Thompson revitalized the office's Conviction Integrity Unit. A post-conviction investigation by the CIU of Hatchett's case discoverd the jury relied on an unreliable eyewitness, the prosecution failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, and Hatchett's trial lawyer provided ineffective assistance of counsel. On March 10, 2016 acting Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D'Emic granted the prosecution motion to vacate the conviction and dismiss the indictment. Judge D'Emic cited the new evidence undermining the reliability of Hatchett's conviction discovered by the post-conviction investigation by the Kings County DA's Conviction Integrity Unit discovered that D'Emic that discoverd the jury relied on an unreliable eyewitness, the prosecution failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, and Hatchett's trial lawyer provided ineffective assistance of counsel. On March 8, 2017 Hatchett filed a federal civil rights lawsuit agaisnt the City of New York, and NYPD detectives and officers who he alleged violated his rights to obtain his confession. On October 3, 2017 it was announced that Hatchett and the city agreed to settle his lawsuit for $12,250,000." |
Conviction Caused By: |
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Innocence Proved By: |
"On March 10, 2015 acting Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D'Emic granted the prosecution motion to vacate the conviction and dismiss the indictment. Judge D'Emic cited the post-conviction investigation by the Kings County DA's Conviction Integrity Unit discovered that D'Emic that discoverd the jury relied on an unreliable eyewitness, the prosecution failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, and Hatchett's trial lawyer provided ineffective assistance of counsel." |
Defendant Aided By: |
"Kings County District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit. Innocence Project of New York, and attorney James Brochin, a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City." |
Compensation Awarded: |
"$12,250,000 (New York City, 10-3-2017)" |
Was Perpetrator Identified? |
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Age When Imprisoned: |
24 |
Age When Released: |
49 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
Black |
Information Source 1: |
"Wrongfully Convicted Man Released From Prison After 25 Years, By Andrew Keshner and Andrew Denney, New York Law Journal, March 11, 2016" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/id=1202751919670/Wrongfully-Convicted-Man-Released-From-Prison-After-25-Years?kw=Wrongfully%20Convicted%20Man%20Released%20From%20Prison%20After%2025%20Years&cn=20160311&pt=Daily%20News&src=EMC-Email&et=editorial&bu=New%20York%20Law%20Journal&slreturn=20160211112503 |
Information Source 2: |
"Man who spent 25 years in prison after wrongful murder conviction to collect $12M from city, By Andrew Keshner, New York Daily News, October 4, 2017" |
Information Location 2: |
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/wrongful-murder-conviction-cost-city-12m-article-1.3539897 |
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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org