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United States: Glynn Simmons, the accused released after 48 years in prison
United States: Glynn Simmons, the accused released after 48 years in prison – (France 2)
After 48 years behind bars, Glynn Simmons was released last July by the American justice system. Released from prison at 71, he is only eligible for 160,000 euros in compensation.
Glynn Simmons was wrongly accused of a murder in a convenience store in Oklahoma (United States). He is the innocent man who served the longest sentence in captivity in American judicial history. The man, who was tried on December 19, 2023 – he was released before being tried – must reread the judgment to believe it: “The acts were not committed by Mr. Glynn Simmons.“
A single witness
He was arrested in 1975 when he was just 22 years old. He had indicated that he was not at the scene at the time of the events, but had been singled out by the only witness during an identification session, a teenage girl injured by a gunshot to the head and whose version will be undermined by the following.
The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. In July he was released. The handcuffs were symbolically removed in front of the camera: “when you know you are innocent, fight, don’t let anyone tell you it’s impossible, because it is possible.“He is only eligible for 160,000 euros in compensation, and lives off donations made to him by other people. He also has to fight cancer. Glynn Simmons has promised to fight against miscarriages of justice.
