Months after a judge tossed out his 1998 murder conviction, Jimmie Duncan is free on bail. But prosecutors have asked the Louisiana Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty for Duncan, even as the victim’s mother has come to support his release.

Jimmie “Chris” Duncan walked out of the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center and into the arms of his parents last week after spending the last 27 years on death row.

Seven months ago, a Louisiana district court judge vacated his murder conviction for killing his former girlfriend’s toddler, citing doubts about the evidence used to convict him. The judge granted bail after multiple legal delays, including an unsuccessful request by prosecutors to the Louisiana Supreme Court to stop his release. Now free, Duncan spent Thanksgiving with his family — then celebrated his 57th birthday the next day.

But Duncan’s journey to freedom is far from over. Prosecutors have asked the state Supreme Court to reinstate his death sentence. Duncan’s attorneys declined to make him immediately available for an interview.

  • Zer0_F0x@lemmy.world
    47·
    14 hours ago

    But moooom I wanted to kill that man because I like the feeling of power it gives me, it’s not faiiiiir

    -The prosecutors, probably

    • Mirshe@lemmy.world
      8·
      6 hours ago

      Basically they’re terrified that this might open doors. That’s almost always what it is. They’re scared that someone might start asking questions about OTHER cases and saying “hey, what if those were wrongfully decided as well?”. A lot of states love executing people who are problematic - poor people, people of color, mentally disabled people - because it’s easier for police to pin literally whatever on them in order to clear up a backlog or to make themselves look competent.