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Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
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Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
This undated handout photo provided by The Innocence Project shows Cornelius Dupree Jr., right, and his wife Selma Perkins Dupree. Dupree, who made pa AP – This undated handout photo provided by The Innocence Project shows Cornelius Dupree Jr., right, and his …
By JEFF CARLTON, Associated Press Jeff Carlton, Associated Press – 2 mins ago
DALLAS – A Texas man had his conviction overturned Tuesday for a rape and robbery he didn't commit after serving 30 years in prison, more time than any other inmate subsequently exonerated by DNA evidence in his state.
Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, was formally cleared of the aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon conviction that had kept him behind bars from December 1979 until July of 2010. He served 30 years of his 75-year sentence before making parole in July. About a week later, DNA test results came back proving his innocence.
"It's a joy to be free again," Dupree said after the ruling in a Dallas courtroom.
Dupree is the longest-serving inmate cleared by DNA evidence in Texas, which has freed 41 wrongly convicted inmates through DNA since 2001 — more than any other state.
Nationally, only two others who have been exonerated by DNA evidence spent more time in prison, according to the Innocence Project, a New York-based legal center representing Dupree that specializes in wrongful conviction cases. James Bain was wrongly imprisoned for 35 years in Florida, and Lawrence McKinney spent more than 31 years in a Tennessee prison.
The DNA testing in Dupree's case also excluded a second defendant, Anthony Massingill, who was subsequently convicted in another sexual assault case and sentenced to life in prison. Massingill remains in prison but maintains his innocence. DNA testing in that second case is ongoing.
Sitting on the courtroom benches were at least six other Texas men wrongly imprisoned but later cleared by either DNA testing or other means. The men have made a habit of showing up together every time a new man is declared innocent.
Dupree was charged in 1979 with raping and robbing a 26-year-old woman. He was sentenced a year later to 75 years in prison for aggravated robbery. He was never tried on the rape charge.
According to court documents, the woman and her male companion stopped at a Dallas liquor store in November 1979 to buy cigarettes and use a payphone. As they returned to their car, two men, at least one of whom was armed, forced their way into the vehicle and ordered them to drive. They also demanded money from the two victims.
The men eventually ordered the car to the side of the road and forced the male driver out of the car. The woman attempted to flee but was pulled back inside.
The perpetrators drove the woman to a nearby park, where they raped her at gunpoint. They debated killing her but eventually let her live, keeping her rabbit-fur coat and her driver's license and warning her they would kill her if she reported the assault to police. The victim ran to the nearest highway and collapsed unconscious by the side of the road, where she was discovered.
Dupree and Massingill were arrested in December because they looked similar to two suspects being sought in another sexual assault and robbery. The 26-year-old woman picked both men out of a photo array, but her male companion did not identify either defendant in the same photo array.
Dupree was convicted and spent the next three decades appealing. The Court of Criminal Appeals turned him down three times.
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Re: Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
After finally being able to catch up on stuff around here I find this thread with no posts. This is a fantastic story of the other side to our justice system. This poor man spent years in hell for a crime he did not commit. I wonder if Dupree plans on a lawsuit? These stories are hard for us to blog about. Because we want to believe in our justice system.
Guest- Guest
Re: Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
I've watched a few shows that have carried the stories of some of the men who have served a great deal of time in prison for crimes that they didn't comment. Thank God for the Innocent Project or these men would still be rotting behind bars for the rest of their lives. I've read somewhere that there are so many of these cases where it's possible that some people could be cleared by DNA but it takes so long that the Innocent Project doesn't have time to get to them.
I've also read where TX has the most of these alleged innocent people in prison and I can believe that.
I don't really believe in our justice system. Our laws need to be changed or in some cases just enforced, parole boards need to quit early releases of violent prisoners and judges need to hand down the maximum time for violent crimes with no early parole. On the other side of the coin, we need to get back to helping our mentally ill, not just let them live on the street or fill up our jails for a little while. These people commit so many violent crimes, and I am in no way defending them but if they could have received help in the first place, I think it would help in more ways than one. We need to quit sentencing drug addicts to jail/prison where they just do their time, get out and continue to use. I've always believed we need more rehabs than more jails, help the people who can be helped and give them a chance to be a productive member of society, but I only mean people who can be helped, that have never been violent!
It's such an injustice that it takes years to have DNA tests run that could clear someone who has been imprisoned for years.
I'll shut up now and get off my
I've also read where TX has the most of these alleged innocent people in prison and I can believe that.
I don't really believe in our justice system. Our laws need to be changed or in some cases just enforced, parole boards need to quit early releases of violent prisoners and judges need to hand down the maximum time for violent crimes with no early parole. On the other side of the coin, we need to get back to helping our mentally ill, not just let them live on the street or fill up our jails for a little while. These people commit so many violent crimes, and I am in no way defending them but if they could have received help in the first place, I think it would help in more ways than one. We need to quit sentencing drug addicts to jail/prison where they just do their time, get out and continue to use. I've always believed we need more rehabs than more jails, help the people who can be helped and give them a chance to be a productive member of society, but I only mean people who can be helped, that have never been violent!
It's such an injustice that it takes years to have DNA tests run that could clear someone who has been imprisoned for years.
I'll shut up now and get off my
raine1953- Administration
- Join date : 2010-01-21
Re: Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
I agree with everything you said, Raine!
laga- Join date : 2009-05-29
Re: Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
Laga, your little granddaughters are adorable!!
I agree with everything you said as well, Raine!
I agree with everything you said as well, Raine!
Re: Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
Wow - 30 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit? That is astounding, and I hope that he does sue! He will never get those years back, but at least the extra money will help somewhat. Hopefully, the Court of Criminal Appeals will be more careful in the future!
Laga, I agree with Wrap - your granddaughters are very cute & I love their watermelon dresses!
Laga, I agree with Wrap - your granddaughters are very cute & I love their watermelon dresses!
Guest- Guest
Re: Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
Thanks, the girls are now 9 and 10. "Barbara Ann" and "Barbara Ann's sister" are in boxes somewhere. The 4 matching dresses I made for the watermelon festival. Oh, guys, my how time flies when you're having fun.
Just think how much life Dupree has missed in 30 years. Sad!
Just think how much life Dupree has missed in 30 years. Sad!
laga- Join date : 2009-05-29
Re: Texan, Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, declared innocent after 30 years in prison
with all that you said too raine.
I am glad that this man's name was finally cleared and he is out of prison now. But to spend 30 years incarcerated unjustly for a crime he did not do is just not fair. I too am glad that the "Innocent Project is in place to help clear what people they can get to.
I wonder when I see some of these criminal lawyers, just how they can stand to look at themselves in the mirror representing some of their clients and getting them off. I know it is their job, BUT.......
Laga,
I meant to comment just how adorable your little grandchildren are also. I love their dresses too.
Just read your post when I was trying to post mine. I wondered if you had made those dresses for the girls and their dolls. So cute. I used to sew a lot of my boys clothes when they were little.
I am glad that this man's name was finally cleared and he is out of prison now. But to spend 30 years incarcerated unjustly for a crime he did not do is just not fair. I too am glad that the "Innocent Project is in place to help clear what people they can get to.
I wonder when I see some of these criminal lawyers, just how they can stand to look at themselves in the mirror representing some of their clients and getting them off. I know it is their job, BUT.......
Laga,
I meant to comment just how adorable your little grandchildren are also. I love their dresses too.
Just read your post when I was trying to post mine. I wondered if you had made those dresses for the girls and their dolls. So cute. I used to sew a lot of my boys clothes when they were little.
Praying For Faith- Join date : 2010-08-22
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