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RODELL SANDERS WRONGFULLY JAILED FOR 20 YEARS RECEIVED $15M SETTLEMENT

He was framed for a crime he did not commit and was behind bars for 20 years. He used his time wisely while incarcerated. He is out of jail and settled with $15m dollars.

Rodell Sanders through the assistance of University of Chicago’s Exoneration Project got his freedom 2 years ago. He was jailed for a 1993 murder gang hit but after many trials, investigation proved he did not commit it. He was lucky that the last surviving member of the hit confessed in a letter to Sanders girlfriend 6 months after the incident.

According to the Chicago Tribune, he wrote,

I know you are still mad at me for helping the police to lie on Rodell about that murder, but I was scared. Like I told you before, the Police told me to lie on Rodell and put his name on this (expletive). They wanted Rodell instead of me because they need me to come to court on another case, then help them put Rodell away forever.’’

From the letter, it shows that Chicago Heights Police framed Sanders from the cropped photo as evidence. His family were solidly behind him, raising $1k so he could learn law and push for retrial. He cross-examined almost a dozen witnesses to put forward court filings. Sanders said that from day one, he said he was framed but no one believed him.

He is free, but he believed he can never get back the 20 years taken from him and the years lost with family and children.

He went to work for the law firm that helped free him; working for the firm that helped him says volume of about him and his true character.

Chicago Heights Police claimed they did nothing wrong but settled because it was better for tax payer,

This is the story of a man’s will power, his personal fight against corruption and injustice and it is remarkable.

It seemed bitter sweet knowing in some ways he beat them(even though they won’t admit wrongdoing) on the other hand knowing he can never get the lost time back or fully reverse the mental damage.

SOURCE: URBAN INTELLECTUALS

STORY WRITTEN BY FOREST PARKS

EDITED FOR READING BY KEMIBIJASBLOG

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