Post by Hipp on Oct 5, 2011 12:26:17 GMT -6
A 46-year-old Humboldt Park man who spent nearly half his life behind bars was freed from prison on Tuesday, after the lone witness in the case recanted his testimony.
Jacques Rivera walked out of Cook County Jail Tuesday ght, his murder conviction tossed out. His mother, Gwen Rivera, ran through the gate outside the jail to embrace him, with his eldest son and daughter, in a group hug that lasted for more than two minutes.
The family's sobbing was audible just moments after Rivera came out.
"I have a different outlook on life," Rivera said after walking out of the jail. "It's a different perspective. I'm looking at different things … in a different eyesight, you know what I mean? … I definitely looking at life differently. I appreciate it more and I respect life more."
For a man who has spent years in a cell behind bars, it was clear his faith had grown. He got a group together and prayed out loud, and said what he most wants now is to go to church.
"I thank God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Rivera said. "He's the one that brought this all about."
His family said it was a dream come true to see him walk free.
"I felt wonderful. I mean, even sitting for him to come out, until you see him walking down … that's amazing," his mother said. "Until you see him walking … it's just … I mean, I was afraid somebody was going to pinch me and say 'you're dreaming.'"
Rivera was sent to jail in the 1988 murder of 16-year-old Felix Valentin, based largely on the testimony of a 12-year-old boy who told police he saw Rivera shoot Valentin.
But the witness, now 35, changed his story, prompting Judge Neera Lall Walsh to order a new trial last month. On Tuesday, prosecutors said they would not re-try Rivera and all charges were dropped.
Jacques Rivera walked out of Cook County Jail Tuesday ght, his murder conviction tossed out. His mother, Gwen Rivera, ran through the gate outside the jail to embrace him, with his eldest son and daughter, in a group hug that lasted for more than two minutes.
The family's sobbing was audible just moments after Rivera came out.
"I have a different outlook on life," Rivera said after walking out of the jail. "It's a different perspective. I'm looking at different things … in a different eyesight, you know what I mean? … I definitely looking at life differently. I appreciate it more and I respect life more."
For a man who has spent years in a cell behind bars, it was clear his faith had grown. He got a group together and prayed out loud, and said what he most wants now is to go to church.
"I thank God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Rivera said. "He's the one that brought this all about."
His family said it was a dream come true to see him walk free.
"I felt wonderful. I mean, even sitting for him to come out, until you see him walking down … that's amazing," his mother said. "Until you see him walking … it's just … I mean, I was afraid somebody was going to pinch me and say 'you're dreaming.'"
Rivera was sent to jail in the 1988 murder of 16-year-old Felix Valentin, based largely on the testimony of a 12-year-old boy who told police he saw Rivera shoot Valentin.
But the witness, now 35, changed his story, prompting Judge Neera Lall Walsh to order a new trial last month. On Tuesday, prosecutors said they would not re-try Rivera and all charges were dropped.
source: yahoo.com
