DNA test comes to rescue to free American after 30 years in jail

07 July, 2012

If the man, who was freed after 30 years, was actually not guilty, then it must have been a tough 30 years to be implicated and jailed for a crime he had not committed. The DNA test gave him his freedom.

PEOPLE WHO have faced calamity of some sort always look for closure. And when they get it, it is the greatest relief as although it does not lower their sorrow but to see justice happening is compensation. Although the other side of the coin may not be that simple - when a man is implicated of rape of 3-year-old and thrown in prison for 30 years but in reality he is not the criminal. Something of the same happened with this Chicago man, Andre Davis, who after 30 years of imprisonment, was declared to be an honest man as the DNA found at the crime scene did not match with him after all.

The DNA sample that was taken from the scene in 1980 where Brianna Stickle was killed did not match with the accused Andre Davis. An Illinois appeal in court was made in March after the test result was released and a new trial was opened. It was yesterday, late Friday, that Davis again walked as a free man after 30 years. He was released at 7:30 pm from the super security jail, reported USA Today website.

Judy Royal form the Centre on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University, who represents Davis said, “Mr. Davis served 32 years in prison for a rape and murder he didn't commit. Tamms is a difficult place to do time. He's hoping to rebuild his life, with the support of his family.” The State Attorney Julia Rietz, who decided not to pursue the matter, said that she did not doubt the result of the DNA tests but decided against retry as it was difficult to take a 32-year-old case to the court. All the evidence was either deceased or not credible to testify for the matter.

She also said that Davies was twice convicted by the juries after the first was dismissed due to a mistake made by a bailiff. When the accused was arrested, he was just 19 years old and was visiting his father in Rantoul. He was arrested shortly after the girl was found naked and among bed clothes in the utility room, almost dead. Davis was drinking in the home where the girl died, with two brothers. The two brothers left Davis with the girl. Briana's stepfather, Rand Spragg, said he left the girl playing in the family's front yard and last saw her last sitting under a tree. In the the year 1980, DNA test was not available and it was in 2004 when Davis requested for a DNA test. According to the test, the semen found at the crime place was not that of Davis. Hopefully, truth has prevailed for the man and as for the little girl's family, closure is yet to come.