A landmark decision was made by a US jury awarding $50 million in damages to Marcel Brown, a man who spent nearly a decade in prison for a murder he did not commit, as announced by his legal team. The federal jury in Chicago ruled in favor of Brown, who was wrongly convicted as an accomplice in a 2008 murder, leading to a 35-year prison sentence.
After a lengthy legal battle, evidence surfaced proving that Brown’s confession was coerced illegally by Chicago police officers during a grueling 30-hour interrogation. The jury unanimously found in favor of Brown, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages for the period between his arrest and conviction, and $40 million for his wrongful imprisonment.
The historical ruling marked the largest award granted to a single individual in a wrongful conviction case in the US. In response to the decision, Brown expressed gratitude for the long-awaited justice served to him and his family. This case sheds light on the importance of upholding justice and ensuring accountability within the legal system.