Miscarriage of justice in New York: 24 years innocent in prison

Antje Passenheim
ARD-Studio New York

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For 24 years he had not given up the dream of finally being back with his family. When he was separated from her, he was still a child.

I was only 19 and had no idea about my rights. And before I went to jail, I always believed in justice.

Almost a quarter of a century innocent behind bars

Bell and his two fellow inmates, Rohan Bolt and Gary Johnson, had temporarily lost this trust in justice. The three African Americans have been innocently behind bars for almost a quarter of a century. They have paid for most of their lives for a double homicide, which they did not commit, as Judge Joseph Zayas finally sealed when he released the men in the beige pants and white shirts.

It was just before Christmas 1996 when a shopkeeper in Queens was mugged in the presence of a police officer. Both men were shot. The double murder sparked a bitter chase. The then Mayor of New York was called Rudy Guilliani. With his “zero tolerance” policy, he set out to crack down on the criminal jungle of the city.

“Zero tolerance” towards minorities?

But the use of the police and the judiciary was mainly directed against minorities. A few days later, the hunters presented the alleged culprits. In the subsequent trial, the prosecutors withheld exculpatory material, explains today’s District Attorney for Queens, Melinda Katz:

Our office concluded that prosecutors did not present police reports that were specifically asked about and that other people were involved. That cannot be defended.

Katz had the case reopened last year. “Your Honor, this is a tragic case that has affected many lives.”

Time is not refundable

The terms of imprisonment for the three innocent convicts ranged from 50 years to life. At that time they were between 19 and 35 years old. Restaurant owner Bolt was already a father of four. What was stolen from them, they will not get back even with their acquittal, emphasizes pro bono lawyer Rita Dave. “Life is measured in time. Time lost is life lost.” The lawyer demands consequences for the system.

While the suffering of George, Gary, and Rohan cannot be erased, the unfairness of a system that values ​​the speedy resolution of criminal cases can be corrected.

Several more meetings are to follow by June – to get to the bottom of the miscarriage of justice. Bell, Bolt, and Johnson will pursue them as free men.