Georgia
Georgia man wrongfully accused of murder to be cleared of charges 73 years later
Man to be cleared of homicide 73 years after convictions
Clarence Henderson was discovered responsible of murdering a white man in Coweta County in 1948 not as soon as, however thrice. Every time the conviction was overturned as a result of lack of proof, however now the district lawyer is asking a decide to lastly dismiss the costs.
COWETA COUNTY, Ga. – It has taken 73 years to clear the title of a Black man wrongfully convicted of a Georgia crime.
Clarence Henderson was discovered responsible of murdering a white man in Coweta County in 1948 not as soon as, however thrice. Every time the conviction was overturned as a result of lack of proof, however now the district lawyer is asking a decide to lastly dismiss the costs.
Brandon Henderson grew up listening to the tales of injustice.
“My mother instructed me about this story after I was a baby,” Henderson stated.
His great-grandfather, Clarence Henderson, a long time in the past was convicted of murdering Carl Stevens, a white man, in Coweta County.
Stevens was an Military veteran, killed whereas defending his girlfriend from a person accused of making an attempt to rape her. Clarence Henderson was a black sharecropper. All-white juries discovered Henderson responsible in three separate trials.
“He had his first trial for at some point. He was convicted in at some point,” Brandon Henderson stated.
The state Supreme Court docket overturned every responsible verdict as a result of lack of proof.
“Simply to know somebody must undergo such traumatic situations when you realize you didn’t do one thing,” Henderson stated.
Clarence Henderson spent 5 years behind bars for a criminal offense he didn’t commit.
“All of the proof confirmed he didn’t do it. Once more and so they nonetheless convicted him,” Henderson stated.
The county by no means formally dismissed the costs. Brandon Henderson, from his residence in Decatur, fought to clear his great-grandfather’s title. “There’s no motive underneath the solar for anybody to have that shadow forged upon them or their household,” Henderson stated.
The Coweta County District Legal professional final month requested a decide to formally, lastly dismiss the cost in opposition to Clarence Henderson as a result of inadequate proof. “I’m very grateful for the Coweta County felony justice system for permitting this to happen, nonetheless, I want it will’ve occurred sooner,” Henderson stated.
Brandon Henderson says his needs his great-grandfather have been nonetheless alive to listen to these expenses dismissed.
The listening to to dismiss the costs shall be held Thursday afternoon on the Coweta County courthouse.