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327:, and remanded his case to the Alabama state court for retrial. Hinton's original defense lawyer had wrongly thought he had only $ 1,000 available to hire a ballistics expert to rebut the state’s case on evidence. The only expert willing to testify at that price was a civil engineer with very little ballistics training and limited by having one eye; he admitted in court to having trouble in operating the microscope.
345:. He said, "Everybody that played a part in sending me to death row, you will answer to God." Hinton filed a claim for nearly $ 1.5 million in compensation for his time in jail due to the wrongful conviction. The legislature has resisted approval of this payment, as state authorities say that he did not prove his innocence. As of late 2022, Hinton has still not received any compensation from Alabama.
31:
389:'s commencement exercises and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree. He had previously spoken to the students of the Class of 2019, six months after his release, in 2015. The students had been so inspired by his earlier address that over 100 of them submitted a petition to the university administration, asking that he be invited to speak at commencement.
266:. After a few years, the club grew as the news spread quickly in the prison that reading was a good escape. However, the number of members also gradually became smaller when book club members were executed. A total of 54 men walked past Hinton's cell on their way to execution. Hinton would smell burning flesh from the electric chair, also called
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district attorney’s office moved to drop the case. Their forensics experts were unable to match crime-scene bullets to Hinton's mother's gun. Prosecutors admitted that they could not match four bullets found at the crime scene with Hinton's mother's gun, and that this was the only evidence offered in
227:
Hinton's public defense attorney did not provide adequate counsel. Upon meeting Hinton, he said, "Listen, all y'all always doing something and saying you're innocent." The credibility of his ballistics expert - the only one the attorney thought he could hire with the funds available - was discredited
210:
On
February 25, 1985, and July 2, 1985, two fast food managers, John Davidson and Thomas Wayne Vason, were killed in separate incidents during armed robberies at their fast food restaurants in Birmingham. A survivor of a third restaurant robbery picked a photo of Anthony Ray Hinton, then age 29, from
378:, Tim Adams described the book as, "a story of forgiveness and struggle" and concludes that, "his wonderful memoir recreates the ways he escaped from his cell in his head – had tea with the Queen of England, married Halle Berry – and how he shared that possibility with his fellow death row inmates."
278:
Hinton's initial appeals continued to be handled by his public defender, Sheldon C. Perhacs, who lost each of Hinton’s cases. Perhacs hired a civil engineer who had impaired vision and didn’t have any forensic experience. The engineer said that there wasn’t any connection between the weapon and the
223:
Shortly after his arrest, Detective Doug Acker told Hinton, "I don't care whether you did or didn't do it. In fact, I believe you didn't do it. But it doesn't matter. If you didn't do it, one of your brothers did. And you're going to take the rap." "I can give you five reasons why they are going to
231:
The prosecution's only evidence at the trial was a statement that ballistics tests showed four crime scene bullets matched Hinton's mother's gun, which was discovered at her house during the investigation. No fingerprints or eyewitness testimony were introduced. Hinton was convicted of each of the
187:
unanimously overturned his conviction on appeal, after which the state dropped all charges against him. The court was unable to affirm the forensic evidence of a gun, which was the only evidence in the first trial. After being released, Hinton wrote and published a memoir
255:, where he was held in solitary confinement for nearly three decades. During his decades in prison, he was supported by his mother's faith in his innocence, as well as that of a longtime friend, Lester Bailey, who visited him weekly. Hinton's mother died in 2002.
224:
convict you. Number one, you're black. Number two, a white man gonna say you shot him. Number three, you're gonna have a white district attorney. Number four, you're gonna have a white judge. And number five, you're gonna have an all-white jury."
228:
by the prosecutor due to the expert's physical limitations and lack of experience. The jury disregarded the testimony of Hinton's boss, who testified that he was at work during the time of the alleged crimes.
215:, and the police investigated him. At the time, Hinton worked at a supermarket warehouse and lived with his mother, Buhlar Hinton, at her home in rural Alabama, about half an hour north of Birmingham.
258:
While on death row, Hinton spent much of his time reading. He organized a book club that was allowed to meet in the prison's law library. Among the authors whom the prisoners read and discussed were
360:
Since his release, Hinton has spoken in various venues about the injustices of the
Alabama judicial system and other issues related to his conviction and imprisonment. He has spoken out against the
282:
Doug Acker, a detective, attempted to persuade Hinton to sign a blank sheet of paper, telling him that it was just to confirm that he had already read his rights. Hinton declined to sign it.
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930:
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On April 3, 2015, Hinton was released from prison after Laura Petro, a
Jefferson County Circuit Court judge, overturned his conviction and the state dropped all charges against him.
285:
Additionally, Hinton’s boss testified that Hinton was working at the time of the incident, and that he was cleaning the supermarket; despite this, the jury still convicted him.
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304:, showing that the bullets from the crime scenes did not match Hinton's mother's gun. But the state court of Alabama refused to overturn his convictions or grant a new trial.
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372:(2018), and has given readings and talks around the country about the book and his experiences. Hinton's book received extremely positive reviews. Writing for
300:, picked up his case, handling his defense for 16 years. During the appeals, EJI introduced evidence from three forensic experts, including one from the
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448:
401:
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838:"Book Marks reviews of The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton, co-written with Lara Love Hardin"
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On May 8, 2023, he gave a commencement speech and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane
Letters from Emory University.
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shooting. However, the jury disregarded his testimony because of his poor eyesight and inability to use the microscope correctly.
382:
calls the book, "a heart-wrenching yet ultimately hopeful story about truth, justice, and the need for criminal justice reform."
1005:"How to Survive Death Row: Anthony Ray Hinton served 30 years in prison for murders he didn't commit. Somehow, he's not enraged"
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Hinton is the 152nd person since 1973 to be exonerated from death row in the United States, and the sixth in the state of
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270:, because it was close to his cell. Finally, Hinton was the last original book club member left on death row.
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84:
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affirmed Hinton's conviction and death sentence. In June 1989, that judgment was affirmed by the unanimous
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798:"Anthony Ray Hinton: 'I spent 30 years on death row for a crime I didn't commit. But God had a plan'"
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In
November 2014, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals closed Hinton's case. On April 1, 2015 the
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323:. The Court ruled that Hinton's original defense lawyer had provided "constitutionally deficient"
88:
991:"They Couldn’t Take My Soul": Anthony Ray Hinton on His Exoneration After 30 Years on Death Row
824:"Anthony Ray Hinton Spent Almost 30 Years on Death Row. Now He Has a Message for White America"
427:"Anthony Ray Hinton Spent Almost 30 Years on Death Row. Now He Has a Message for White America"
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625:
1046:
348:
572:"Alabama inmate free after three decades on death row. How the case against him unraveled"
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449:"Anthony Ray Hinton, Alabama Man Who Spent 30 Years on Death Row, Has Case Dismissed"
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770:"Alabama man off death row after 28 years to jailers: You will answer to God"
483:"Alabama man off death row after 28 years to jailers: You will answer to God"
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972:
931:"Death row survivor Anthony Ray Hinton to keynote Bona's 159th Commencement"
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177:
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724:
865:"The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin – review"
365:
168:(born June 1, 1956) is an American activist, writer, and author who was
342:
57:
347:
956:"Watch Live Ceremonies | Emory University | Atlanta GA"
537:"I went to death row for 28 years through no fault of my own"
370:
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and
Freedom on Death Row
190:
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and
Freedom on Death Row
102:
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and
Freedom on Death Row
172:
of the 1985 murders of two fast food restaurant managers in
176:. Hinton was sentenced to death and held on the state's
288:
After Hinton had been on death row for about a decade,
906:"Death row survivor returns to address #Bonas seniors"
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316:vacated the state court conviction in a unanimous
654:, 21 October 2016 (page visited on 1 April 2018).
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407:List of wrongful convictions in the United States
16:American activist, writer, and author (born 1956)
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564:
562:
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594:"Alabama death row inmate freed after 30 years"
1102:American people wrongfully convicted of murder
615:
613:
611:
580:, 3 April 2015 (page visited on 9 April 2015).
620:Anthony Ray Hinton; Lara Love Hardin (2018).
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1092:Overturned convictions in the United States
29:
18:
1122:21st-century American non-fiction writers
701:"Hinton v. Alabama, 571 U.S. 263 (2014)"
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418:
402:Capital punishment in the United States
180:for 28 years before his 2015 release.
1147:21st-century African-American writers
1117:American anti–death penalty activists
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857:
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586:
442:
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1152:20th-century African-American people
1127:African-American non-fiction writers
624:. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press.
232:two murders and sentenced to death.
891:THE SUN DOES SHINE | Kirkus Reviews
219:Arrest, prosecution, and conviction
368:." He completed a memoir entitled
314:Supreme Court of the United States
308:Exoneration, release and aftermath
185:Supreme Court of the United States
14:
1003:Chotiner, Isaac (22 March 2018).
935:St. Bonaventure University - News
910:St. Bonaventure University - News
385:On May 19, 2019, Hinton spoke at
325:ineffective assistance of counsel
237:Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
1064:
1052:
1040:
759: (Ala. Crim. App. 2014).
646:"I spent 28 years on death row "
491:. Associated Press. 4 April 2015
192:(2018). Hinton was portrayed by
535:McGreal, Chris (1 April 2018).
447:Daniella Silva (2 April 2015).
352:Anthony Ray Hinton speaking at
672: (Ala.Crim.App. 1988).
1:
1087:Capital punishment in Alabama
296:(EJI), a non-profit based in
1112:Anti–death penalty activists
235:In June 1988, the unanimous
335:the original murder trial.
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1132:African-American activists
1012:Interview with Megyn Kelly
387:St. Bonaventure University
151:
147:
117:
28:
977:Equal Justice Initiative
364:, calling it a "form of
294:Equal Justice Initiative
241:Supreme Court of Alabama
982:The Death Row book club
85:criminal justice reform
1137:Activists from Alabama
757:172 So. 3d 355
688:548 So. 2d 562
670:548 So. 2d 547
357:
312:In February 2014, the
132:(2 counts; overturned)
690: (Ala. 1989).
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1142:Writers from Alabama
802:Premier Christianity
644:Anthony Ray Hinton,
354:Politics & Prose
81:wrongfully convicted
1027:, Macmillan Company
984:(27 min.) from the
725:"Hinton v. Alabama"
596:. BBC. 3 April 2015
577:The Washington Post
298:Montgomery, Alabama
251:Hinton was sent to
174:Birmingham, Alabama
1024:The Sun Does Shine
622:The Sun Does Shine
358:
194:O'Shea Jackson Jr.
166:Anthony Ray Hinton
89:anti-death penalty
23:Anthony Ray Hinton
986:BBC World Service
804:. 1 November 2022
631:978-1-250-20579-7
196:in the 2019 film
170:wrongly convicted
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683:Ex parte Hinton
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778:. 4 April 2015
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53:(age 68)
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1022:Ray Hinton,
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939:. Retrieved
937:. 2019-03-27
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914:. Retrieved
912:. 2019-05-19
909:
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873:. Retrieved
871:. 2018-03-26
869:the Guardian
868:
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775:The Guardian
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734:. Retrieved
730:Oyez Project
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708:. Retrieved
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651:The Guardian
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542:The Guardian
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488:The Guardian
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183:In 2014 the
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143:(overturned)
101:
97:Notable work
51:June 1, 1956
1107:1956 births
268:Yellow Mama
83:of murder;
1081:Categories
941:2019-05-20
916:2019-05-20
875:2020-12-10
847:2020-12-10
842:Book Marks
710:2023-08-17
705:Justia Law
548:2018-04-01
413:References
319:per curiam
264:Harper Lee
206:Background
199:Just Mercy
112:Exonerated
47:1956-06-01
1047:Biography
973:Case page
253:death row
247:Death row
178:death row
1007:. Slate.
808:6 August
453:NBC News
396:See also
366:lynching
356:in 2018.
321:decision
91:activism
71:Activist
1033:Portals
975:at the
782:4 April
736:30 June
600:4 April
495:4 April
458:4 April
343:Alabama
292:at the
274:Appeals
58:Alabama
999:(2015)
755:,
686:,
668:,
628:
213:lineup
156:Spouse
79:Being
69:Author
60:, U.S.
1016:Today
141:Death
1018:show
810:2023
784:2015
738:2020
626:ISBN
602:2015
497:2015
460:2015
262:and
87:and
41:Born
1071:Law
302:FBI
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