Miami agrees to pay wrongfully convicted man $2.2 million

MIAMI (AP) -- Officials in Miami have agreed to pay $2.2 million to a man wrongfully convicted of six murders and a rape.

Jerry Frank Townsend spent 22 years in prison after he was convicted of the crimes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. DNA evidence exonerated him and he was freed in 2001.

City commissioners agreed Thursday to settle a lawsuit with Townsend. He is still suing the Broward Sheriff's Office, which charged him with several killings.

The lawsuits allege detectives coerced confessions from Townsend, who has an IQ of about 50, and doctored evidence against him.

Full article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_DNA_EVIDENCE_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

That's a ton o'money, hope he has someone trustworthy enough to help with financial decisions, having an IQ of 50 could leave him vulnerable to some problems.

Must the IRS stake a claim to every penny that gets into our wallets?

The jurors in this case also need to face accountability as well.

But 2.2 million can't hurt.

A 22 year sentence with no parole for each cop, prosecutor & judge involved would suffice.

They should have all their assets seized and given to the victim.

That would be justice.

Simply taking taxpayer money does not give the system an incentive not to do this again.