Charge dismissed against Ohioan once on death row
Published: Thursday, Sep. 6, 2012 - 12:06 pm
CLEVELAND -- An Ohio man who spent more than 21 years on death row is free after a judge dismissed the murder charge against him in a 1988 stabbing death.
A Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County judge on Thursday dismissed the aggravated murder count against 62-year-old Michael Keenan after determining evidence that could have exonerated him was withheld from his trial attorneys.
A co-defendant was freed in 2010 by a judge citing the same reason.
Keenan was convicted twice of killing Tony Klann in a Cleveland park. Keenan's attorney says a priest who befriended the co-defendant helped uncover evidence favorable to both men.
A federal judge in April had ruled that Keenan must be retried or the verdict set side.
Congratulations Mr. Keenan!
more info at Death Penalty Info Center: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/innocence-ohio-judge-dismisses-all-charges-and-frees-inmate-death-row
