Fernando Bermudez Wrongful Conviction - A man, who served about 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, has been awarded a record compensation of $4.75 million by the State of New York.
Fernando Bermudez, who was released from prison in 2009, after new evidence emerged in his case, sued the State for his wrongful conviction in 2010. The settlement, which follows up to 5 years of legal battles with the State over the legitimacy of his claim, comes just as Bermudez and his legal team were set to go to trial.
"Fernando Bermudez served 18-and-a-half years for a crime that he did not commit. The settlement sets a new precedent for New York State and paves the way for a change in the way the State treats those that are falsely convicted and unjustly imprisoned," Michael S. Lamonsoff, Bermudez's attorney said.
Bermudez was convicted in 1992 for the murder of a teenager that he did not know. 16 years old Raymond Blount was shot and killed outside a New York nightclub by a man, who apparently looks similar to Bermudez. Although some witnesses had initially fingered Bermudez as the shooter, they later recounted their testimonies and confessed that they were under pressure from the police and the assistant district attorney to pin the crime on him.
"the settlement will never erase the injustice that I experienced as an innocent man in prison for 18 years and a half years," Bermudez said. "The mental and physical toll, which began 23 years ago, continues for me."
Reports indicate that Bermudez is also suing the state police and district attorney for constitutional violations in his initial trial. It is unclear when the case will go to trial.
Meanwhile, the office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has noted that the AG is committed to making sure wrongfully convicted persons are compensated.
