A jury has found a Philadelphia man not guilty in his retrial in the rape and murder of an elderly woman a quarter-century ago. After nearly 25 years in prison, 44-year-old Tony Wright walked out a free man Tuesday raising his arms in the air along with his lawyers and members of The Innocence Project.
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The district attorney’s office chose to retry him, instead of allowing his release, after his conviction was vacated by a judge in 2014, in light of the new evidence.
The detectives, who have since retired, denied having pressured Wright to confess, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The evidence used in the original trial was a signed confession that Wright claims was coerced, bloody clothing found under his bed and eyewitness testimony that put Wright at the scene of the crime.
Wright’s attorney wouldn’t comment on whether he’ll be filing a civil suit seeking monetary damages for the time Wright spent in prison.
Wright spent Tuesday night celebrating with family and friends and his legal team – the Innocence Project of NY and pro bono litigators from the Center City firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis L.L.P. – at a Queen Village pizzeria. “And I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t happening for me”, said 44-year-old Wright.
After he was released from Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, Wright tearfully hugged his family, who was equally as emotional to have him back. His lawyers bitterly attacked police and prosecutors, accusing them of fabricating evidence and persisting in trying to prove Wright’s guilt even after DNA testing indicated another man had committed the crime. During this frustrating process, he’d see similar cases in other states, prompting him to ask himself why he wasn’t as lucky. “I literally cried tears of sadness at times during the trial, and tears of joy after the foreperson announced our verdict”, said Battis, reading a statement she said she had posted on Facebook.
Though all those involved in securing Wright’s exoneration – most of all, Wright himself – were relieved, Neufeld said it was also “outrageous that he has been forced to endure a retrial to gain his freedom after DNA testing already proved his innocence”. Since then, two of the witnesses died and three recanted.
“This was truly emotionally draining, mentally exhausting and soul-stirring thing that I’ve ever done in my life. We just didn’t know when”.
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“Those people don’t need to explain nothing to me”, Wright said. “I want to do whatever my granddaughters want to do”. “But I can’t wait to go see her face and see her face and just hold her in my arms”.
