Tue May 3, 2016, 12:43 AM

Man Convicted of Brooklyn Murder Exonerated After 52 Years

Source: NBC News

Come November, 81-year-old Paul Gatling will get to do something that many Americans take for granted —he'll get to vote for a presidential candidate.

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson vacated Gatling's 1964 murder conviction on Monday and restored his rights, including his right to vote.

"I want my name cleared," Gatling told NBC News before Thompson made it official. "Most of all, I just want to vote before I die."

The delighted Gatling said his only regret is that President Obama won't be on the ballot.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-convicted-brooklyn-murder-exonerated-after-52-years-n566076

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10 replies	Author	Time	Post
Man Convicted of Brooklyn Murder Exonerated After 52 Years (Original post)	Major Nikon	May 2016	OP
My god. Poor, poor man. 52 years behind bars without having committed the crime.	Judi Lynn	May 2016	#1
His sentence was commuted in 1974, but not vacated	Major Nikon	May 2016	#2
Voting is this important. Let us never forget. . . nt	Bernardo de La Paz	May 2016	#3
This ought to be rubbed in the nose of anyone who supports the death penalty.	Peace Patriot	May 2016	#4
There's another down side to their claims as well	Major Nikon	May 2016	#6
Plead under threat of death penalty.	Festivito	May 2016	#5
But, According To Fat Tony. . .	ProfessorGAC	May 2016	#7
Time to rethink putting people in cages, let alone the death penalty.	Gregorian	May 2016	#8
If we ever do get the opportunity to pass a new voting rights act ...	surrealAmerican	May 2016	#9
Everyone needs to know this	Babel_17	May 2016	#10

Response to Major Nikon (Original post)

Tue May 3, 2016, 12:59 AM

Judi Lynn (158,701 posts)

1. My god. Poor, poor man. 52 years behind bars without having committed the crime.

Here's hoping that somehow this man will find peace in what is left of what would have been his life.

Thank you, so much, for posting this.

Best wishes to Paul Gatling.

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Response to Judi Lynn (Reply #1)

Tue May 3, 2016, 01:37 AM

Major Nikon (36,666 posts)

2. His sentence was commuted in 1974, but not vacated

So he spent 10 years in prison, but the conviction has still been following him around since it was never overturned.

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Response to Major Nikon (Original post)

Tue May 3, 2016, 01:47 AM

Bernardo de La Paz (46,723 posts)

3. Voting is this important. Let us never forget. . . nt

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Response to Major Nikon (Original post)

Tue May 3, 2016, 02:22 AM

Peace Patriot (24,010 posts)

4. This ought to be rubbed in the nose of anyone who supports the death penalty.

What if he had been sentenced to death? Huh? HUH?

Jeez. These people.

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Response to Peace Patriot (Reply #4)

Tue May 3, 2016, 08:51 AM

Major Nikon (36,666 posts)

6. There's another down side to their claims as well

Supporters of the DP also often claim that having a death penalty helps gain convictions from people who plead to life in prison rather than face the DP. The obvious problem with that is people like this man who have little choice.

But they don't seem to care much about the innocent people who are victimized so long as they get their pound of flesh.

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Response to Major Nikon (Original post)

Tue May 3, 2016, 04:15 AM

Festivito (13,452 posts)

5. Plead under threat of death penalty.

White jury. White pregnant lady identifies him (after not being sure at first).

Rest is not in article.

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Response to Major Nikon (Original post)

Tue May 3, 2016, 08:51 AM

ProfessorGAC (61,016 posts)

7. But, According To Fat Tony. . .

. . .he should have stayed in jail because proof of innocence should not negate a properly adjudicated case.

So, per Scalia, this guy shouldn't have been let out, even in 1974.

That has to be correct, because Scalia was such a genius!

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Response to Major Nikon (Original post)

Tue May 3, 2016, 09:14 AM

Gregorian (23,867 posts)