It's bad enough that Anthony Graves had 18 years of his life stolen from him by the Texas justice system, which imprisoned him for a crime he didn't commit.
Now the lack of two words on the judge's order releasing Graves may keep him from getting $1.4 million in compensation from the state.
The words "actual innocence" were omitted from the judge's order that released Graves. Since the order doesn't explicitly say that Graves is innocent - even though he is - he doesn't qualify for the compensation, according to state officials.
I have little doubt this will be worked out eventually to Graves' satisfaction.
Graves has an active website and Facebook site that has been spreading his story across the world.
And even Texas Gov. Rick Perry has weighed in, calling the Graves case "a miscarriage of justice."
But after a man has lost nearly half his life because of unjust police and prosecution, why should he have to fight to get his rightful compensation?
Exactly what price do you put on the suffering of a man who for 14 years thought he was going to be executed for a crime he didn't commit?
I say the state of Texas is getting off cheap at $1.4 million.
The prosecutor, judge and defense all agree Graves was wrongly convicted of the 1992 murders of six people in Somerville, Texas. Of 18 years in prison, Graves spent 14 on the busy Texas death row.
A Court of Appeals overturned Graves conviction in 2006, ruling that prosecutors withheld evidence and coerced false testimony implicating Graves from co-defendant Robert Earl Carter.
Carter took full responsibility for the killings in his final words before being executed in 2000.
C'mon, Texas! Do what's right and pay Anthony Graves his money.
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