The actor is acquitted after spending 23 years in prison for the death of a retired police officer

html[data-range=”xlarge”] figure image img.img-aafeaa3d131334ae3daac08e433d8aaf097o36fd { width: 774px; height: 436px; }HTML[data-range=”large”] figure image img.img-aafeaa3d131334ae3daac08e433d8aaf097o36fd { width: 548px; height: 309px; }HTML[data-range=”small”] figure image img.img-aafeaa3d131334ae3daac08e433d8aaf097o36fd, html[data-range=”medium”] figure image img.img-aafeaa3d131334ae3daac08e433d8aaf097o36fd { width: 564px; height: 318px; }HTML[data-range=”small”] .article__image-embed, html[data-range=”medium”] .article__image-embed {width: 564px; margin: 0 automatic 30px; }

American actor Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, 48, has been acquitted after spending 23 years in prison, from 1998 to 2021, for a crime he did not commit. Three years ago he was provisionally released after a breakthrough in the investigation. This Monday, the 30th, his freedom was definitively confirmed by a Manhattan Court judge, putting an end to a long legal battle.

• Receive the main news directly on WhatsApp! Subscribe to the Terra channel

“The air feels different. The people feel different. As I walk, I feel lighter,” he said after his innocence was made official.

Velázquez was arrested in 1998 and sentenced to life in prison for the death of a retired police officer. He gained freedom in 2021, after new investigations proved his innocence.

A series of evidence revealed that he had no connection to the officer’s murder. His appearance did not match what witnesses reported. His lawyers fought for nearly a decade until he was released. In October 2022, Velázquez received a public apology from President Joe Biden for his arrest.

On the American broadcaster “CBS New York”, the actor stressed that his main projects now concern his family. He wants to strengthen his relationships with his children and grandchildren, something made difficult by his years in prison.

“I’m building my bonds with my children… And now I have grandchildren! I’m also using my voice as a platform to help people. If you’re in the jury’s sights, pay attention,” she said.

Over the past three years, Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velázquez has become an active voice in the fight against wrongful convictions handed down by the American justice system. “I am disappointed that the system is not working. My father was a police officer. How was I accused of killing a retired police officer?,” he said, showing his indignation.

Source: Terra

Amanda

I am Amanda Gans, a motivated and ambitious professional in the news writing industry. With over five years of experience in this field, I have developed an eye for detail and an ability to craft stories that captivate readers. I currently write for Gossipify, where I specialize in beauty & celebrities news. My passion lies with exploring the world of beauty through writing, interviewing experts and developing articles that are both informative and entertaining.