DNA clears Fla. man after 35 years behind bars

[firedupdem]

BARTOW, Fla. - James Bain used a cell phone for the first time Thursday, calling his elderly mother to tell her he had been freed after 35 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

Mobile devices didn't exist in 1974, the year he was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping a 9-year-old boy and raping him in a nearby field.

Neither did the sophisticated DNA testing that officials more recently used to determine he could not have been the rapist.

"Nothing can replace the years Jamie has lost," said Seth Miller, a lawyer for the Florida Innocence Project, which helped Bain win freedom. "Today is a day of renewal."

Bain spent more time in prison than any of the 246 inmates previously exonerated by DNA evidence nationwide, according to the project. The longest-serving before him was James Lee Woodard of Dallas, who was released last year after spending more than 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34467096/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?GT1=43001

**No amount of money in the world can repay spending 35yrs in prison.

[Blue_Tires]

1. nothing can replace the time he lost

how do you even adjust to the outside after all that time??

it is heartwarming for his mother to see her son as a free man, though...

[Kind of Blue]

2. I was going to say the same thing - thanks goodness

his mom survived to see this day. Thank goodness he survived and wasn't executed.
How does he adjust?- well, I'm hopeful because of the smile on his face - beautiful and the statement on his T-shirt, of course. So far he seems to have a good outlook.

"he spoke of his deep faith and said he does not harbor any anger.

'I'm not angry,' "no, I'm not angry,' he said. 'Because I've got God.'

The 54-year-old said he looks forward to eating fried turkey and drinking Dr Pepper. He said he also hopes to go back to school.

I think I woke up to the news this morning saying he's getting a bunch of money. I'm not sure maybe incorporated wishful thinking while I awoke.

[Raineyb]

3. I hope he gets a payoff. Usually the state just washes their hands

and offers a half ass apology.

[Brewman_Jax]

4. This is too sad--and far too common

a black man that has had his life taken by a racist and corrupt injustice system. If these sorry-ass racist cops and prosecutors had to be held accountable for these incredible miscarriages of justice and not be able to hide behind sovereign immunity, this will stop happening.

[firedupdem]

5. Yup...

They basically handed a 9yr old a group of pictures of black men and said pick one. I think he gets 50K for every year he was locked away. No amount of money can fix this muck up!