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Wrongly Convicted Database Record
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Charge: |
Murder |
Sentence: |
Life Imprisonment |
Years Imprisoned: |
24.65 |
Year Crime: |
1986 |
Year Convicted: |
1987 |
Year Cleared: |
2011 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
Texas |
County or Region of Crime: |
Williamson |
City of Crime: |
Georgetown |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated Released |
Summary of Case: |
"Michael Morton was wrongly convicted in 1987 of murdering his wife Christine by beating her to death in their home near Austin, Texas on August 13, 1986. Morton was sentenced ot life in prison. Based on Morton's exclusion as the source of DNA on a bandana worn by the killer, on October 4, 2011 the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals vacated his conviction. On October 12, 2011 the appeals court declared that Morton was actually innocent, which opens the door to him pursuing compensation. Morton was wrongly imprisoned for almost 25 years. On November 23, 2011 Mark Alan Norwood, 57, has been booked into the Williamson County Jail on capital murder charges of murdering Morton's wife and his bail was et at $750,000." |
Conviction Caused By: |
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Innocence Proved By: |
"On October 4, 2011 when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals vacated Michael Morton's conviction. On October 12, 2011 the appeals court declared that Morton was actually innocent." |
Defendant Aided By: |
Innocence Project NY |
Compensation Awarded: |
"$1,973,333,33 lump sum payment plus $12,287.55 monthly annuity (State of Texas, 2-1-2012)" |
Was Perpetrator Identified? |
Yes |
Age When Imprisoned: |
31 |
Age When Released: |
56 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
White |
Information Source 1: |
"Morton defense balks as Williamson County D.A. attempts 'business as usual', By Lou Ann Anderson, Bell County Legal News Examiner, October 14, 2011" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.examiner.com/legal-news-in-austin/morton-defense-balks-as-williamson-county-d-a-attempts-business-as-usual |
Information Source 2: |
"Appeals court declares Morton's innocence, Austin Your News Now, October 12, 2011" |
Information Location 2: |
http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/280892/appeals-court-declares-morton-s-innocence/ |
Information Source 3: |
"Arrest made in Texas wrongful conviction case, By Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times, November 9, 2011" |
Information Location 3: |
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/11/arrest-made-in-texas-wrongful-conviction-case.html |
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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org