Maryland has approved a compensation of over $340,000 for Demetrius Smith, who was wrongly convicted of murder and spent more than five years in prison, including over a year after being proven innocent. Governor Wes Moore, who chairs the Board of Public Works, apologized to Smith and acknowledged the long overdue justice. Smith was wrongfully charged with murder at the age of 25 in 2008, despite the judge considering it the thinnest case he had ever seen.
Maryland Apologizes and Provides Compensation for Wrongfully Convicted Man
Maryland has taken a step towards rectifying a grave injustice by approving a compensation of over $340,000 for Demetrius Smith, who was wrongly convicted of murder and spent more than five years in prison. Governor Wes Moore, chairing the Board of Public Works, personally apologized to Smith for the years he lost behind bars. Smith’s case, which the judge described as the thinnest he had ever seen, highlights the flaws in the criminal justice system and the need for reforms.
Years of Injustice
Smith’s ordeal began in 2008 when he was wrongfully charged with murder at the age of 25. Despite the judge considering the case to be extremely weak, the prosecution persisted, relying on unreliable testimony from a witness. Smith spent over five years in prison before finally being proven innocent. It took more than a decade for Maryland to acknowledge its mistake and offer a long overdue apology and compensation to Smith.
