AT2W

Exonerated Inmate Obie Anthony Found Innocent and Release From Prison After 17 Years

Yet another innocent man innocent of a crime he was convicted of 17 years ago.  May God Bless him and his family.

Anthony was convicted of killing a man outside a South Los Angeles bar in a 1995 trial. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But last Friday, Anthony’s conviction was overturned by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kelvin D. Filer, after determining the state’s star witness, a pimp, lied to the jury.

Anthony said he was not at the scene and has always maintained his innocence.

Obie Anthony received an evidentiary hearing in September, after 3 1/2 years of research including visits of the crime scene and re-interviewing witnesses.

The director of the Project for the Innocent, Laurie Levenson, said the pimp has changed his testimony and said he never saw the shooter.

A News report stated:

Anthony thanked his legal team for “coming to my rescue” and vowed by pay it forward by helping others who are wrongfully convicted.

Levenson called Anthony’s release her “greatest moment ever.”

“I’m so happy for Obie,” she said, then turning to him. “Obie, have a wonderful life.”

Obie Anthony, 37, collapsed into the arms of family members, who screamed and cried as he walked out of a downtown Los Angeles jail.

“It’s really overwhelming at this point,” said Anthony. “It’s going to take a couple of days before everything really sets all the way in.”

Despite being locked up for most of his adult life, Anthony said he didn’t harbor any anger and believed the justice system worked.

“I knew from the very beginning that justice will come,” he said. “I never once wavered in my faith.” [Source]