More than half a century after the murder of black American civil rights activist Malcolm X, wrongly convicted Muhammad Aziz is suing the city of New York for millions of dollars in damages. The 84-year-old’s lawyers filed a lawsuit in federal court on Thursday, court documents show. According to media reports, Aziz is demanding USD 40 million (almost EUR 40 million). The lawsuit can drag on for years.
Malcolm X was shot dead in New York in February 1965 at the age of 40. Aziz was convicted along with others and released from prison in 1985 after 20 years. The convictions against him and another convict, Khalil Islam, were not quashed until November 2021 – 55 years after the verdict. The two men were acquitted due to conflicting testimony and lack of evidence at the original trial.
Mayor: ‘Reversing convictions is a justified outcome’
Islam had also spent 20 years in prison. He died in 2009. A third convict, who confessed to the murder, remained guilty. Immediately after the sentences against Aziz and Islam were quashed, talks about the amount of compensation broke down, reports the New York Times. Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced he would investigate the lawsuit. “As someone who has campaigned throughout his career for a fairer criminal justice system, I believe the quashing of the convictions of Mr Aziz and Mr Islam was a justifiable result.”
Aziz was 26 at the time of his sentencing and the father of six young children. The damage caused to Aziz and his family by the verdict is immense and irreparable, court documents say. He spent the prime of his life behind bars.
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.
