Post date: Jan 04, 2011 11:14:57 PM
Cornelius Dupree, Jr., who was wrongfully committed of rape and robbery and served thirty years in prison, is freed by a Dallas judge after DNA evidence exonerated him. Dupree is 51-years-old and served more prison time than any other person wrongfully committed of a crime in the state of Texas.
DALLAS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 4, 2010) NBC - Cornelius Dupree, Jr., a Texas man wrongfully convicted of rape and robbery, was exonerated by DNA evidence on Tuesday (January 4), after spending thirty years in prison.
"I would just like to say that it is a joy to be free again," Dupree said as he faced Dallas County Judge Don Adams.Looking back at Dupree, Adams then declared, "You're free to go. Thank you very much. Sorry for everything."
The courtroom erupted in applause as Dupree hugged his lawyers and turned and hugged his wife Selma Perkins Dupree.
Dupree was convicted in 1980 of the rape and robbery of a Dallas woman and sentenced to 75 years in jail, according to NBC News.
Dupree was released in July and placed under house arrest. DNA evidence was returned approximately one week after his release, proving his innocence.
Barry Scheck, the Co-Director of the Innocence Project and one of Dupree's lawyers, said in a news conference from the courtroom that Dupree's exoneration was the fortieth post-conviction DNA exoneration in Texas.
"Cornelius Dupree served thirty years in jail, in prison, for a crime he didn't commit which is the largest number of years anyone has ever served in the state of Texas for a crime he didn't commit, exonerated by DNA, and this is just extraordinary," Scheck said.
Dupree who stood next to his wife during the new conference said he was "feeling mixed emotions."
"After thirty years, that is a hard, that is a hard walk. I just want to say that I feel that words really won't make up for what I have lost. You know, I lost both my parents. I just feel that, you know, the system needs to be fixed, by whatever means, you know so it just won't happen to anyone else," Dupree said.
Dupree met his wife in prison twenty years ago, according to NBC News. The couple married the day after his release.
Dupree, who was arrested at age 19, is now 51 years old, according to NBC News.
The Innocence Project is a "national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice,:" according to the group's website.