In a landmark case, a U.S. jury has awarded $50 million to Marcel Brown, who spent nearly a decade in prison for a murder he did not commit. Brown’s conviction was overturned in 2018 after his lawyers presented evidence that his confession was obtained through coercive means.
Brown was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 35 years in prison for his alleged role in the murder of a 19-year-old man. However, his lawyers argued that the confession was extracted through illegal means, including prolonged interrogation, denial of food and sleep, and prevention of phone calls.
After a two-week trial, the jury unanimously agreed that the police had indeed coerced Brown’s statement and fabricated evidence. The jury awarded Brown $10 million in compensatory damages for the time between his arrest and conviction, and $40 million in damages for his time in prison and subsequent suffering.
Brown’s case is a stark reminder of the flaws in the criminal justice system and the importance of protecting the rights of the accused. His award is the largest to a single wrongful-conviction plaintiff in U.S. history.
Vanguard.