Wrongly Convicted Database

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Richard Simmons

Years Imprisoned:	8
Charge:	Murder and Rape
Sentence:	16 years
Year Convicted:	1986
Year Cleared:	2002
Location of Trial:	Germany
Result:	Judicially Exonerated (either after completion of sentence or while released on appeal)
Summary of Case:	Wrongly convicted as a British soldier stationed in Germany of the 1985 rape and murder of an 18 year old German woman. After 8 years of imprisonment a German judge ordered his release when it was proven that his DNA didn't match that of the murderer/rapist. Simmons' had been convicted because his blood, like half the men in Germany, was the same type as the murderer, and the case against him was otherwise circumstantial. Simmons was paid £11k in compensation in 2002. Mr. Simmons was so determined to overturn his wrongful conviction that he learned German while imprisoned and spent hours studying forensic medicine books.
Conviction Caused By:	Circumstantial case and false analysis of the physical evidence.
Innocence Proved By:	DNA testing of the physical evidence used at his trial excluded him as the rapist/murderer. His blood was of the same type as the murderer, but so did the blood of half the men in Germany.
Defendant Aided By:
Compensation Awarded:	£11k in 2002.
Was Perpetrator Found?
Age When Imprisoned:	26
Age When Released:	34
Information Source 1:	""Ex-soldier cleared of 1985 rape and murder," Allan Hll, The Times, London, UK, Feb. 27, 2002."
Information Location 1:	http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-220285,00.html
Information Source 2:	""Ex-soldier cleared of 1985 rape and murder""
Information Location 2:	http://www.legalbrief.co.za/view_1.php?artnum=4458
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Richard Simmons

Years Imprisoned:

8

Charge:

Murder and Rape

Sentence:

16 years

Year Convicted:

1986

Year Cleared:

2002

Location of Trial:

Germany

Result:

Judicially Exonerated (either after completion of sentence or while released on appeal)

Summary of Case:

Conviction Caused By:

Circumstantial case and false analysis of the physical evidence.

Innocence Proved By:

DNA testing of the physical evidence used at his trial excluded him as the rapist/murderer. His blood was of the same type as the murderer, but so did the blood of half the men in Germany.

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

£11k in 2002.

Was Perpetrator Found?

Age When Imprisoned:

26

Age When Released:

34

Information Source 1:

""Ex-soldier cleared of 1985 rape and murder," Allan Hll, The Times, London, UK, Feb. 27, 2002."

Information Location 1:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-220285,00.html

Information Source 2:

""Ex-soldier cleared of 1985 rape and murder""

Information Location 2:

http://www.legalbrief.co.za/view_1.php?artnum=4458

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Book Information:

Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case:

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