Connecticut is ready to pay almost $5.9 million to the household of a disabled man who was wrongly imprisoned for greater than 20 years earlier than he was freed in 2015 when his 1992 conviction within the homicide and rape of an 88-year-old grandmother was overturned.
Richard Lapointe, who died at age 74 in 2020, had Dandy-Walker syndrome, a uncommon congenital mind malformation that his attorneys say was a consider his false confession. Lapointe was by no means declared harmless, however his attorneys and the state legal professional normal’s workplace finally agreed to settle after years of authorized battles.
The state claims commissioner’s workplace on Jan. 2 set the cash to be awarded to the household, though it nonetheless must be accredited by the legislature. The claims commissioner’s workplace determines whether or not individuals can file lawsuits in opposition to the state or obtain cash below the state’s wrongful incarceration regulation.
Claims Commissioner Robert Shea Jr. stated his workplace agreed that the award is “cheap and acceptable.”
CONNECTICUT LAWYER INTRODUCES BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING ON FLIGHTS TO, FROM STATE
On this April 10, 2015, photograph, Richard Lapointe, middle, raises his arms with Kate Germond, left, and Paul Casteleiro, each of Centurion Ministries, after he was granted bail and launched on the Connecticut Supreme Court docket in Hartford, Connecticut. (AP)
Lapointe’s legal professional, Paul Casteleiro, stated the award is “a recognition by the state of the unsuitable it dedicated in prosecuting and imprisoning an harmless man. Sadly, Richard didn’t dwell lengthy sufficient to witness his last vindication.”
“The award is certainly not sufficient compensation for what was completed to Richard Lapointe,” Casteleiro stated Friday, including that the state destroyed his shopper’s life “for against the law he didn’t commit.”
The legal professional normal’s workplace stated in a press release Friday that it “negotiated a decision of this declare within the pursuits of all events. This displays that course of.”
In 1987, Lapointe’s spouse’s grandmother, Bernice Martin, was discovered stabbed, raped and strangled in her burning residence in Manchester, Connecticut.
Lapointe was convicted in Martin’s homicide in 1992 and sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of launch. Key proof within the case included Lapointe’s confessions throughout an almost 10-hour interrogation by Manchester police.
His attorneys argued his psychological incapacity attributed to him giving false confessions and that the confession was coerced with out his attorneys current.
Lapointe was convicted of homicide in 1992 and sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of launch. (iStock)
The state Supreme Court docket dominated 4-2 in a 2015 choice that Lapointe was disadvantaged of a good trial since prosecutors didn’t disclose notes by a police officer which will have supported an alibi protection. Later that yr, prosecutors stated new DNA testing didn’t implicate Lapointe and all the costs have been dropped.
No person else has been charged in Martin’s killing.
Lapointe was launched from custody a short while later and exited the Hartford courthouse sporting a black T-shirt that learn “I did not do it” as he threw his arms into the air in triumph.
“In fact I didn’t do it,” Lapointe stated on the time. “That wasn’t me. I wouldn’t do nothing like that to no person. I wouldn’t even kill my worst enemy.”
Casteleiro stated the case in opposition to Lapointe destroyed his household, who shunned him.
BIDEN CLEMENCY FOR ‘NON-VIOLENT’ INMATES INCLUDES CONNECTICUT CHILD KILLER
The state Supreme Court docket dominated 4-2 in a 2015 choice that Lapointe was disadvantaged of a good trial. (iStock)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Earlier than Martin’s demise, Lapointe and his spouse, who has cerebral palsy, “have been making a life collectively. They have been doing okay,” Casteleiro stated. However after his arrest, his spouse divorced him, and he misplaced all contact along with his son, who was younger on the time.
After his launch from jail, Lapointe started affected by dementia, was positioned in a nursing dwelling in East Hartford and died after a battle with COVID-19, in line with his attorneys.
Lapointe has been supported by a number of advocates, together with the teams Buddies of Richard Lapointe and Centurion, a company Casteleiro works for that helps the wrongly convicted.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Source link