Wrongly Convicted Database Record

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Marcellius Bradford


Years Imprisoned:

6.5

Charge:

Kidnapping

Sentence:

12 yrs

Year Convicted:

1988

Year Cleared:

2001

Location of Trial:

Illinois

Result:

Pardoned

Summary of Case:

"Codefendant of Larry & Calvin Ollins and Omar Saunders, who were all convicted of rape. Bradford falsely confessed and testified against his codefendants to get a lighter sentence. His three co-defendants were convicted even though tests showed the men's blood type didn't match the perpetrator. He later recanted, saying police coerced him into falsely confessing and that he did so to avoid a life sentence. He said: "'I am ready to go back to court and admit I lied. I am willing to go the whole nine yards. I think about this every day--and I will skateboard into hell.'" (Chicago Tribune, May 2, 2001). In 2001 DNA tests unavailable at the time of the men's trial excluded them. The four men were pardoned by IL Gov George Ryan in October 2002. Awarded $120,000 in compensation by the State of Ilinois in 2003. In December 2006 he settled his lawsuit against the City of Chicago for $900,000."

Conviction Caused By:

Falsely confessed to get a lighter sentence, and falsely testifed against Larry Ollin.

Innocence Proved By:

In 2001 DNA tests unavailable at the time of the men's trial excluded all four co-defendants. The four men were pardoned by IL Gov George Ryan in October 2002.

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

$120k from the State of Illinois, plus $900,000 from the City of Chicago in December 2006.

Was Perpetrator Found?

Yes

Age When Imprisoned:

Age When Released:

Information Source 1:

Four Wrongly Convicted Meet As Free Men, Ted Gregory (staff), Chicago Tribune July 24, 2002

Information Location 1:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0207240272jul24,1,4203410.story

Information Source 2:

$8 million deal is in pipeline - 2 more freed inmates ready to settle in 1986 murder case - Chicago Tribune, By Mickey Ciokajlo, April 11, 2007

Information Location 2:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0704100616apr11,1,3493822.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Information Source 3:

Innocence Project database

Information Location 3:

http://www.innocenceproject.org/case/display_profile.php?id=96

Information Source 4:

Information Location 4:

Information Source 5:

Information Location 5:

Ethnicity/Skin:

Black

Book About Case:

Book Information:

Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case:

Falsely confessed


Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org