Steve Lopez, the last of the six teenagers jailed for raping and battering a white woman in Central Park in 1989, in New York state of the USA, was acquitted of the charges against him today.
New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a press release at the Manhattan courthouse that Steve Lopez, the last of six black and Latino teenagers to be jailed for raping a white young woman walking at night in Central Park nearly 33 years ago, is late. He expressed his satisfaction that he was proven innocent and acquitted.
Thanking Lopez’s attorney, Eric Renfroe, and the tribunal for their efforts to get justice done, Bragg said, “I am honored to have Mr. Lopez’s conviction reversed and the indictment against him dismissed. I thank Judge Ellen Biben and our entire justice system for their efforts to make this happen. ” said.
“I hope that today’s judge’s decision on a closely watched issue like this will help move those who perceive injustice in our system,” Bragg said. he said.
Answering questions from members of the press, Steve Lopez’s attorney, Eric Renfroe, said: “This outcome is not something the justice system does very often for those who have to admit crimes they didn’t commit. I’m glad it happened today.” used the phrase.
Lopez, who kept her silence in front of the members of the press as she was during the court, was saved from the slander at the age of 48 at the age of 15.
CENTRAL PARK FIVE CASE
In the incident, which New Yorkers showed great interest and called “Central Park Five”, six black and Latino youth were arrested on charges of raping 28-year-old Trisha Meili and leaving her to die. .
Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise and Yusef Salaam, who were named in the incident, filed a lawsuit against the New York city government for $41 million for defamation after they were released in 2002.
On the other hand, Lopez, whom the police tried to force her to accept the crime of rape, did not accept the allegations, but because she was afraid of being tried for rape, she had to accept the crime of beating a male runner in the same venue, even though it had nothing to do with it.
For this reason, Lopez, who was separated from the other 5 and his story remained in the background, was cleared from the same case 20 years after his friends. (AA)