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| DNA Frees Man After Six Years In Prison |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/01/2002 |
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As his mother wept in the courtroom, a man who spent six years in prison for murder was freed after DNA testing helped exonerate him in a brutal 1995 gang slaying. Hector Gonzalez, 25, was released last week after a judge in New York City's Brooklyn borough approved a motion by prosecutors to vacate his murder conviction and 15 years-to-life sentence. Gonzalez fell into his sobbing mother's arms after he was turned loose. Gonzalez, still in his green prison-issue clothes, said he planned to go out for dinner on the night of his release and then look for a job. Despite his time behind bars, he said he held no grudge against prosecutors. When Gonzalez was arrested, authorities found a half-dozen blood stains on his pants key evidence in the prosecution case. But DNA testing of the blood showed it was not from the victim; it was from two other people injured in the brawl. The blood wound up on Gonzalez's pants after he tried to assist the two injured people, his attorneys said. An eyewitness in the case said Gonzalez was a participant in the fight, but could not say that he was involved in the slaying. Gonzalez was arrested on Dec. 2, 1995, for allegedly participating in the slaying of Lemuel Cruz, 27. Members of the Latin Kings attacked Cruz in a case of mistaken identity, believing he had earlier punched one of their crew, prosecutors said. Cruz was stabbed 25 times and his throat was slit. In 1996, Gonzalez and three members of the Latin Kings were sentenced to life in prison on state charges in the slaying. This February, two other members of the Latin Kings pleaded guilty to federal charges in the case. |
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