<p>Justice delayed is justice denied!&nbsp;</p>

<p>That’s exactly what has happened with Gerardo Cabanillas of Los Angeles in the US. At the age of 18, he was arrested on charges of sexual assault.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three decades later, his innocence has been proved in a court of law. DNA evidence shows someone else had committed the crime, and he was falsely implicated in the case by the investigators.</p>

<h2><strong>Gerardo Cabanillas admitted to the crime</strong></h2>

<p>Even as Cabanillas emphasised his innocence to the detectives, he was promised probation and relief as long as he admitted to the crime.</p>

<p>So, Cabanillas did the same thing. He falsely admitted to having committed the crime. He was accused of a brutal robbery at gunpoint and sexual assault of a young woman in South Gate in 1995, according to a report by LA Times.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;USA debt ceiling deal passed</strong></p>

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<p>He was then subjected to a seven-hour-long painful interrogation with no access to an attorney. Detective Jack Lee Alirez promised him relief if he admitted to the charges framed against him.</p>

<p>Instead, the 18-year-old was convicted and sentenced to a de facto life sentence after investigators pressed at least 14 felony charges against him.</p>

<h2><strong>Justice delayed-Justice denied</strong></h2>

<p>“Justice has been a very long time coming ... if we can even call it that at this point,” said attorney Alissa Bjerkhoel, who represented Cabanillas through the California Innocence Project.</p>

<p>Bjerkhoel highlighted glaring issues with the case from the outset. There existed no tangible proof connecting Cabanillas to the assault.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The victim initially selected Cabanillas from a police lineup of suspect photos but did not confirm his identity during court proceedings, which included a preliminary hearing and two trials, according to court records.</p>

<p>The victim's boyfriend stated that he identified Cabanillas only after a detective presented him with a photograph and informed him that "Cabanillas was the person they arrested and that he had confessed," as indicated in the records.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/why-the-us-needs-india-more-than-india-needs-the-us-605782"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Why the US needs India more than India needs the US?</strong></a></p>

<p>For decades, Cabanillas consistently denied any wrongdoing. It wasn't until 2017 that the California Innocence Project took up his case, as mentioned by Bjerkhoel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year, DNA evidence not only proved Cabanillas innocent but also identified another suspect who was already in prison awaiting trial for murder.<br />
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Justice delayed is justice denied! That’s exactly what has happened with Gerardo Cabanillas of Los Angeles in the US. At the age of 18, he was arrested on charges of sexual assault.

Justice delayed is justice denied! That’s exactly what has happened with Gerardo Cabanillas of Los Angeles in the US. At the age of 18, he was arrested on charges of sexual assault. Three decades later, his innocence has been proved in a court of law. DNA evidence shows someone else had committed the crime, and he was falsely implicated in the case by the investigators. Gerardo Cabanillas admitted to the crime Even as Cabanillas emphasised his innocence to the detectives, he was promised probation and relief as long as he admitted to the crime. So, Cabanillas did the same thing. He falsely admitted to having committed the crime. He was accused of a brutal robbery at gunpoint and sexual assault of a young woman in South Gate in 1995, according to a report by LA Times. Watch: USA debt ceiling deal passed × He was then subjected to a seven-hour-long painful interrogation with no access to an attorney. Detective Jack Lee Alirez promised him relief if he admitted to the charges framed against him. Instead, the 18-year-old was convicted and sentenced to a de facto life sentence after investigators pressed at least 14 felony charges against him. Justice delayed-Justice denied “Justice has been a very long time coming ... if we can even call it that at this point,” said attorney Alissa Bjerkhoel, who represented Cabanillas through the California Innocence Project. Bjerkhoel highlighted glaring issues with the case from the outset. There existed no tangible proof connecting Cabanillas to the assault. The victim initially selected Cabanillas from a police lineup of suspect photos but did not confirm his identity during court proceedings, which included a preliminary hearing and two trials, according to court records. The victim's boyfriend stated that he identified Cabanillas only after a detective presented him with a photograph and informed him that "Cabanillas was the person they arrested and that he had confessed," as indicated in the records. Also read: Why the US needs India more than India needs the US? For decades, Cabanillas consistently denied any wrongdoing. It wasn't until 2017 that the California Innocence Project took up his case, as mentioned by Bjerkhoel. This year, DNA evidence not only proved Cabanillas innocent but also identified another suspect who was already in prison awaiting trial for murder. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: Man accused of sexual assault acquitted after spending 28 years in prison

<p>After two decades of protesting his innocence, a man in Greater Manchester has successfully got a rape conviction quashed. Andy Malkinson's rape conviction and its subsequent quashing have raised serious questions about the justice system's handling of his case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Malkinson spent 17 years of the two decades behind bars, fighting for his innocence in a case in which DNA evidence has now implicated another man.</p>

<h2><strong>Immeasurable damage</strong></h2>

<p>The Crown Prosecution Service, as per BBC, did not oppose Malkinson's appeal and on Wednesday (July 26th, 2023) the Court of Appeals ruled in his favour.</p>

<p>As per the BBC report, the nightmare began when in 2003 Greater Manchester Police arrested Malkinson, a resident of Grimsby, for a crime he knew nothing about.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Despite fervently denying involvement and lacking any forensic evidence linking him to the attack, he was wrongfully identified by the victim in an identity parade. The next year, he was jailed for life, with a minimum sentence of seven years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The student of Information Science, who back then was 37-year-old and was temporarily working as a security guard, faced a legal battle where everything seemed to conspire against him.</p>

<p>He faced witnesses with criminal records whose credibility was never properly scrutinised. Even when Malkinson cooperated with the police, they remained dismissive of his innocence. His refusal to falsely confess to a crime he didn't commit meant he had to endure the unimaginable pain of 17 years behind bars.</p>

<h2><strong>Faith eroded</strong></h2>

<p>While incarcerated, Malkinson's faith in justice eroded as he encountered bureaucratic indifference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Malkinson claims that attempts to present his case were met with "indifference,"&nbsp;and the possibility of rehabilitation was denied since he maintained his innocence.</p>

<p>He was finally released in December 2020 on a strict life licence. The charity 'Appeal' has been a champion of his innocence,&nbsp;exposing a series of missed opportunities in the investigation.</p>

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<p>"I asked the CCRC to commission new DNA testing to prove my innocence years ago, but they refused. They wouldn't even bother reviewing the police files," revealed the now 57-year-old.</p>

<p>Thanks to advances in DNA analysis, crucial evidence was identified, leading to the arrest of a new suspect. Yet, the process remains slow, and Malkinson seeks a full investigation into the failings of the Greater Manchester Police and an independent review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.</p>

<p>"I want the CCRC Chair Helen Pitcher to apologise for failings and commission an external, independent review aimed at learning lessons from what went wrong in their handling of my case," said Malkinson.</p>

<p>"I am unspeakably angry with Greater Manchester Police. I want those who have done wrong to be brought to account," he added.</p>

<p>Speaking to the press outside the court after Wednesday's (July 26th) ruling, the wrongly incarnated man said that the conviction left "a gaping black hole in my life".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I did not commit the crime, but I was treated as if I did," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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After two decades of protesting his innocence, a man in Greater Manchester has successfully got a rape conviction quashed. Andy Malkinson's rape conviction and its subsequent quashing have raised serious questions about the justice system's handling of his case.

After two decades of protesting his innocence, a man in Greater Manchester has successfully got a rape conviction quashed. Andy Malkinson's rape conviction and its subsequent quashing have raised serious questions about the justice system's handling of his case. Malkinson spent 17 years of the two decades behind bars, fighting for his innocence in a case in which DNA evidence has now implicated another man. Immeasurable damage The Crown Prosecution Service, as per BBC, did not oppose Malkinson's appeal and on Wednesday (July 26th, 2023) the Court of Appeals ruled in his favour. As per the BBC report, the nightmare began when in 2003 Greater Manchester Police arrested Malkinson, a resident of Grimsby, for a crime he knew nothing about. Also read | Chaos in New York as construction crane catches fire, collapses partially; 6 injured. Watch! Despite fervently denying involvement and lacking any forensic evidence linking him to the attack, he was wrongfully identified by the victim in an identity parade. The next year, he was jailed for life, with a minimum sentence of seven years. The student of Information Science, who back then was 37-year-old and was temporarily working as a security guard, faced a legal battle where everything seemed to conspire against him. He faced witnesses with criminal records whose credibility was never properly scrutinised. Even when Malkinson cooperated with the police, they remained dismissive of his innocence. His refusal to falsely confess to a crime he didn't commit meant he had to endure the unimaginable pain of 17 years behind bars. Faith eroded While incarcerated, Malkinson's faith in justice eroded as he encountered bureaucratic indifference. Malkinson claims that attempts to present his case were met with "indifference," and the possibility of rehabilitation was denied since he maintained his innocence. He was finally released in December 2020 on a strict life licence. The charity 'Appeal' has been a champion of his innocence, exposing a series of missed opportunities in the investigation. Also read | Tucker Carlson claims he 'knows' Fox News fired him under Dominion settlement "I asked the CCRC to commission new DNA testing to prove my innocence years ago, but they refused. They wouldn't even bother reviewing the police files," revealed the now 57-year-old. Thanks to advances in DNA analysis, crucial evidence was identified, leading to the arrest of a new suspect. Yet, the process remains slow, and Malkinson seeks a full investigation into the failings of the Greater Manchester Police and an independent review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. "I want the CCRC Chair Helen Pitcher to apologise for failings and commission an external, independent review aimed at learning lessons from what went wrong in their handling of my case," said Malkinson. "I am unspeakably angry with Greater Manchester Police. I want those who have done wrong to be brought to account," he added. Speaking to the press outside the court after Wednesday's (July 26th) ruling, the wrongly incarnated man said that the conviction left "a gaping black hole in my life". "I did not commit the crime, but I was treated as if I did," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rape conviction quashed: Man proves his innocence after 17 years in jail

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US: Man accused of sexual assault acquitted after spending 28 years in prison

Rape conviction quashed: Man proves his innocence after 17 years in jail