Despite being the victim of racial prejudice with his rape conviction and ignoring evidence, Leonard Mack maintained his optimism.
Rape Conviction 48 Years Later
A man who was false rape conviction in New York over fifty years ago was exonerated on Tuesday thanks to recently discovered DNA evidence that pointed detectives in the direction of the true offender.
In March 1976, Leonard Mack was found guilty of a rape conviction and two counts of weapon possession; he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
The 72-year-old’s case was taken up by the Innocence Project, which got in touch with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Conviction Analysis Unit late last year to request access to and analysis of biological evidence from 1975, the year of the alleged crime and rape conviction.
Man is Freed from Rape Conviction
The unit did discover the victim’s underwear cuts, which tested positive for semen although much of that evidence had long since vanished. Also discovered was Mack’s underpants and he was charged with rape conviction.
His DNA was matched to a man who have had rape conviction of burglary and rape in Queens not long after the crime Mack was prosecuted for, rather than matching that found on the victim’s clothing.
The attacker has now admitted to the crime, according to the Innocence Project, which also stated that this case involves “virtually every common contributing factor in wrongful convictions.”
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