A man wrongly sentenced to life in prison has been released from a California prison after 38 years. “I’m not standing here as an embittered man,” Hastings, 69, said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Friday. He now wanted to enjoy his life and just move on. District attorney George Gascón announced the man’s release based on DNA analysis.
His conviction for murder was a “terrible injustice”. Hastings had always denied the crime. He was charged with kidnapping, sexually assaulting and shooting a 30-year-old woman in Inglewood, California, in 1983. Her body was found in the trunk of her car. Months later, Hastings was arrested and sentenced to life in prison in 1988.
DNA tests must prove innocence
According to the public prosecutor Hastings had already unsuccessfully insisted on a DNA analysis in 2000. The Los Angeles Innocence Project was later informed of the matter. The organization is trying to prove the suspect’s innocence using DNA testing.
Last June, a DNA test found that traces of semen found on the body did not belong to Hastings. This month, a database linked them to an inmate who died in 2020 while serving a long sentence on other charges of kidnapping and rape.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
