The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has cleared Kerry Cook of guilt after nearly two decades on death row, a journey that began with a murder case dating back more than four decades. The decision marks a dramatic turn in a saga of appeals and legal battles that drew national attention. (CNN)
In 1977, a neighbor named Linda Edwards, who was 21, was found murdered and raped. A conviction followed in 1979, leading to a death sentence that would later be overturned. The next phase saw the jury fail to reach a verdict in 1992. Two years later, in 1994, Cook received another death sentence. (CNN)
In 1999, a plea deal tied to ongoing investigation procedures allowed Cook to be released after spending two decades behind bars, a consequence of post-conviction scrutiny and evolving evidence standards. (CNN)
Recently, a Texas court declared Cook not guilty, citing false testimony and misinterpretation of evidence that had formed the backbone of the prosecution. The ruling underscores how wrongful-conviction challenges can reshape a defendant’s fate even after many years. (CNN)
Meanwhile, in December 2023, an Oklahoma court issued an acquittal for a man who had spent 48 years imprisoned. The decision highlights how new evidence and renewed review processes can alter long-standing criminal outcomes. (CNN)
Earlier reports from Los Angeles revealed that Maurice Hastings, who served 38 years in a murder case from 1983, was determined to be innocent after fresh examinations of the case materials. This development reinforces the ongoing public and judicial interest in the accuracy of fatal-justice outcomes. (CNN)
In other recent court news, a jury has returned a verdict of not guilty in the case involving actor Kevin Spacey on charges related to sexual assault allegations, continuing a broader public conversation about accountability in high-profile cases. (CNN)