After reviewing his case by reading the court documents,
visiting the crime scene, interviewing his alibi and conferring with Mr.
Spencer’s attorney at Centurion Ministries, an innocence project, we
became convinced of Mr. Spencer’s innocence.
Mr. Spencer has spent just over half his life locked up for a
crime he swears he did not commit. Spencer was arrested in March 1987
for the robbery and killing of Dallas business owner Jeffrey Young.
Unlike the many wrongful-conviction cases that have resulted in
exonerations, there is no DNA evidence to settle Spencer's guilt or
innocence. In fact, there was no physical evidence against him at all.
The only material evidence against Spencer is the testimony of three
West Dallas residents who said they saw Spencer dump the victim's car in
their neighborhood the night of the crime. Mr. Spencer believes they
made up the story to collect a reward and the facts as we have reviewed
them suggest that a significant bias to that effect exists. A lighting
expert has since studied the area. He testified that with the darkness
and distances involved, the witnesses couldn't possibly have recognized
Mr. Spencer or anyone else that night. After having visited the area at
night ourselves, we believe that no identification could have been made
at the distances described in the court papers. Also, the friend of a
man known as the Batman, who had committed several crimes using the same
methods as those used against the victim, testified that his friend
bragged to him about killing the victim. Many of the facts described by
the Batman’s friend were consistent with facts surrounding the murder
that were never released to the public. Based upon the Batman’s friend’s
testimony, that of the lighting expert and on other testimony, a Dallas
judge ruled on March 28, 2008 that he believes Spencer is actually
innocent. The Dallas judge recommended that the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals overturn Spencer’s original conviction. Mr. Spencer continues to
await their decision in a prison cell.
Nothing to celebrate in Ben Spencer ruling Article here Free Benjamine Spencer! (A Judge ruled he is innocent 3 years ago but he is still in prison here Exonerees, supporters rally for Ben Spencer, who has served 25 years in prison read more here Ben Spencer Was Arrested 25 Years Ago; His Supporters Visit Watkins' Office here
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/us/declared-innocent-in-a-killing-but-still-behind-bars.html?smid=fb-share
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20120505-exonerees-supporters-rally-for-ben-spencer-who-has-served-25-years-in-prison.ece
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