International News: Florida Man Convicted of Murder Returns to Prison after Two Years of Freedom
A 65-year-old man, Crosley Green, who spent three decades behind bars for a murder he claims he did not commit, surrendered to the Florida Department of Corrections on Monday. Since his conditional release in 2021 amid appeals, Green had been employed at a machine grafting facility, attended church, and spent time with his grandchildren. He even formed a relationship.
"I've been with this man for two years," his fiancée, Kathy Spikes, shared with CNN. "To not be able to have a 5 o'clock phone call to say, 'I'm home,' for me to say, 'What do you want for dinner,' that's what I'm anxious about."
Green's return to incarceration follows a ruling by US District Judge Roy Dalton in mid-April, requiring him to resume his life sentence. Green's legal team, led by Keith Harrison and Jeane Thomas, has represented him pro bono for 15 years.
In 2019, a federal court in Orlando overturned Green's conviction. However, the state of Florida appealed this decision, winning last year, which resulted in Green's conviction being reinstated. Judge Dalton allowed Green to remain free while he exhausted his legal options.
Green's legal team petitioned the US Supreme Court, but their plea was declined in late February. "I can't be angry at no one," Green told CNN. "I don't want no one else to be angry at no one. Anger isn't going to take you nowhere. Ain't going to do (anything) but harm you. I’m happy. I’m not happy about going back. I’ve got my family, and that's what matters."
Convicted murderer Anthony Green, who is serving a life sentence for the 1989 shooting death of Charles Flynn, maintains his innocence and is seeking parole or clemency. Green, an African-American, was initially sentenced to death by an all-White jury, later having the sentence commuted due to a technicality in 2009.
In 2018, Judge Dalton ruled that prosecutors had improperly withheld evidence suggesting another individual may have been the shooter. However, this ruling was overturned by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals late last year, reinstating Green's conviction.
Green's legal team, led by attorney Shawn Nolan Thomas, argue that he is an ideal candidate for parole, citing his successful integration back into society during supervised release over the past two years. Thomas emphasizes that clemency does not equate to exoneration but serves as a mechanism for the state to determine if an individual has served sufficient time in prison to be released.
Green, who wears an ankle monitor and is considered a model citizen according to his legal team, remains optimistic about proving his innocence. In a statement shared with CNN, he expressed that this latest ruling is just another hurdle in his fight for justice. Thomas reiterates their unwavering belief in Green's innocence and continues to advocate for him, stating, "We just believe that eventually we will get it right."
Senior Nigerian opposition leader, Omoyele Sowore, detailed his current efforts to secure his release from detention on Tuesday, stating, "My present struggle is aimed at regaining my freedom." In an interview with CNN, Sowore attributed his resilience to his religious beliefs, remarking, "If individuals worldwide could emulate the self-belief I possess, backed by my faith, they too would have the ability to voice their opinions uninhibited, no matter the obstacles encountered."
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