Virginia inmate Thomas Haynesworth joined his family on Monday after 27 years in prison. Monday was his 46th birthday.
Haynesworth’s case is a complicated one as he was convicted of 3 crimes—two rapes and an abduction. DNA testing proved Haynesworth could not have committed one of the assaults, and pointed to another man. The other two crimes involved no biological evidence:
Th AP (via the Wa Po) has more on the story:
Thomas Haynesworth of Richmond was freed on parole and can now turn his attention to clearing his name in two other assaults — a move supported by state Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli and the chief prosecutors in the localities where those crimes occurred 27 years ago. The Virginia Court of Appeals will conduct a hearing on Haynesworth’s exoneration bid March 30. Until then, Haynesworth said, he is just relishing his freedom.
Until then, Haynesworth said, he is just relishing his freedom.
“It’s very joyful to be back with my family. It’s a big day for us,” Haynesworth told reporters minutes after walking out of the Greensville Correctional Facility in Jarratt.
Accompanied by his lawyers, Haynesworth was reunited with his family on the roadside just outside the prison about 60 miles south of Richmond.It felt good to be hugging him — it felt real good,”’ said his mother, Delores Haynesworth.
Haynesworth was convicted of two rapes and an abduction in 1984. The Virginia Supreme Court exonerated Haynesworth of one rape in 2009 after testing of semen implicated another man, Leon Davis, a serial rapist known as “the Black Ninja.”’ Davis is serving seven life terms for sexual assaults and other crimes…..
Haynesworth was convicted primarily based on witness testimony.