Michael Morton (Criminal Justice)
Encyclopedia
Michael Morton is an American who was convicted in 1987 in a Williamson County, Texas
court of the murder of his wife. Recent DNA test results identified under the direction of the Innocence Project
support his claim of innocence. Subsequently, Morton was released from a Texas prison on October 4, 2011 pending further review of his case by the court, as the new DNA evidence points to the crime being committed by another individual.
The DNA profile of the unnamed male found at the Morton crime scene is also allegedly linked to a later murder in nearby Travis County. Prosecutorial misconduct of withholding evidence is suspected in the Michael Morton case.
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
court of the murder of his wife. Recent DNA test results identified under the direction of the Innocence Project
Innocence Project
An Innocence Project is one of a number of non-profit legal organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand dedicated to proving the innocence of wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA testing, and to reforming the criminal justice systems to...
support his claim of innocence. Subsequently, Morton was released from a Texas prison on October 4, 2011 pending further review of his case by the court, as the new DNA evidence points to the crime being committed by another individual.
The DNA profile of the unnamed male found at the Morton crime scene is also allegedly linked to a later murder in nearby Travis County. Prosecutorial misconduct of withholding evidence is suspected in the Michael Morton case.
See also
- List of miscarriage of justice cases
- Overturned convictions in the United StatesOverturned convictions in the United States- Alabama :Blount CountyBill Wilson was convicted of the 1912 murder of his wife and child. He was exonerated in 1918 when they were both found living in Indiana.Jackson County...
External links
- Texas Man Freed After Serving Nearly 25 Years for Murdering His Wife That New DNA Evidence Shows He Didn’t Commit at the Innocence ProjectInnocence ProjectAn Innocence Project is one of a number of non-profit legal organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand dedicated to proving the innocence of wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA testing, and to reforming the criminal justice systems to...