IL Innocence Project Helps Free Man Accused In Marion County Murder

The Illinois Innocence Project says it’s responsible for the release of a Chicago man who has spent 14 years in prison for murder. 40 year old Anthony Murray is expected to be released from the Illinois Department of Corrections tomorrow. Murray was serving a 45 year term for the murder of a Centralia man.

John Hanlon is the legal director for the Illinois Innocence Project based at the University of Illinois Springfield. He says there is evidence that Murray was not at the scene of the crime, including testimony from the victim’s cousin, who was an alibi witness for Murray. In order to gain freedom Murray accepted a plea deal for second degree murder and was released based on time served. Hanlon says it’s a result of a corrupt legal system:

HANLON: “Knowing what I know and believing what I believe about this case, it doesn’t feel right, because he still is going to have this conviction on his record. In other words, I don’t think justice has been fully served here.”

Hanlon says Murray has had 15 family members die while in prison, and his mother wants him back home. This is the fifth case where the Illinois Innocence Project has helped a wrongfully convicted inmate gain back their freedom, and the second this year.

-Rachel Otwell