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| Arizona Man Freed by DNA Evidence in 1991 Murder Case |
| By Reuters |
| Published: 05/01/2002 |
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A former postal worker who spent 10 years of a life sentence in prison walked out of an Arizona courtroom a free man on Monday, cleared by DNA evidence of the 1991 stabbing death of a local bartender. Saying it was a long time in coming, Ray Krone, 45, had all charges against him dismissed by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Al Fenzel during a brief hearing. Krone, who was convicted twice and spent a stint on death row for allegedly killing Kim Ancona at a central Phoenix bar, hugged his attorneys as supporters erupted into applause when the judge wished him well and good luck. Krone was the first person in Arizona to have a first-degree murder sentence overturned by DNA evidence. The case drew national attention from anti-death penalty advocates including Amnesty International, who proclaimed that Krone was the 100th person from death row exonerated since 1973. Krone was not on death row at the time he was freed. 'It's a bad dream that has come to an end,' Krone told reporters outside the courthouse. 'We're all very thankful ... It's a good day and life's going to get better.' He said his only plans so far were to return to his native Pennsylvania to be with family and friends for the next few weeks. 'I'm definitely happy and excited,' he said. 'And a little scared because I'm not sure what the future is going to hold. Now it's a whole big adventure.' County prosecutors said charges cannot be refiled in the highly publicized case. Another man has since been charged with murder and sexual assault in the case. Test results from the murder scene tied the crime to Kenneth Phillips, a convicted sex offender already incarcerated on an unrelated charge. Krone was released from a Yuma, Ariz., prison on April 8 after the judge was told new tests showed that DNA material found on Ancona did not match Krone. His attorneys had asked that the more sophisticated tests be performed. Both the county's top prosecutor and the Phoenix police chief immediately apologized for the apparent mistake when it became known. Krone had been convicted both times based on strong circumstantial evidence and testimony from expert witnesses about what happened that bloody day on Dec. 29, 1991. Bite marks on Ancona's body were at the time said to be unique to Krone, causing him to be dubbed the 'Snaggletooth Murderer.' |
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