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CNN Live Today

Men Wrongly Imprisoned for 13 Years Freed

Aired May 15, 2001 - 13:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: After serving 13 years in prison for a crime they did not commit, two men are tasting freedom today. Anthony Faison and Charles Sheperd were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a cab driver.

Reporter Jeanine Aguirre of CNN affiliate NY1 has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLES SHEPERD, FORMER PRISONER: It's been a very hard and very long fight. And with the same breath, I have to say that we cannot forget those men who sit in prisons across America who are suffering from injustices.

ANTHONY FAISON, FORMER PRISONER: The system is messed up. We all have seen that, through 14 years of this here. If it weren't for Mr. Race and my co-defendant writing the letters and getting this here, we would have never gotten out. When they ask if the system's fair -- it's not fair.

JEANINE AGUIRRE, NY1: The two were wrongly convicted of second- degree murder in the killing of a livery cab driver back in 1987.

Faison wrote more that 60,000 letters from his cell proclaiming their innocence. But it was just one that prompted some action: Former police Detective Michael Race received a letter in 1999 and decided to investigate the case for free.

MICHAEL RACE, INVESTIGATOR: It's the way he wrote the letter, not what's written in the letter. It's just his determination, his willpower in fighting 12 years for something he really believed in -- I'm totally innocent; I got framed.

AGUIRRE: Prosecutors originally based their case on the testimony of one woman, who later admitted she lied on the stand for drug money. She was paid off by a man who was seeking revenge on Faison and Sheperd because they didn't hire him for a construction job.

RON KUBY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: This wasn't done by a single crack addict -- this was done by cops who didn't bother to check the fingerprints; by prosecutors who wanted a conviction more than they wanted justice; and by a judge who had no compassion and just rebuffed every single plea, just ignored the papers. It's just too easy to blame this on any one person.

AGUIRRE: The District Attorney's Office wasn't convinced it had the wrong guys until Friday, after the arrest of Arlet Cheston, who allegedly confessed to the killing.

(on camera): The judge said it wasn't his fault, the district attorney's fault, or the jury's fault, and that they all believed they were doing the right thing at the time -- and that they are all very sorry.

(voice-over): Family members had mixed emotions.

EVELYN MEDFORD, FAISON'S SISTER: I feel partially justified. My brother's coming home today; that's the good part of it. But now we have to try to work on the system that sent him there for 14 years for a crime he didn't commit. So I'm happy, but I have issues with the system as well.

STACY SHEPERD, SHEPERD'S MOTHER: I can't explain the way I'm feeling. I'm happy; I'm a little angry. It took 14 years to get here, but he's home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATERS: Neither man has said if he'll be taking legal action against the city.

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