Vincent Simmons released from prison after 44 years | Forensic Files

i have lived 44 years with his face etched in my brain it was everything that you
pray to god never happens to anyone for me it's really tough i'm i'm struggling i'm struggling to
do the interview at all is it possible that you picked the wrong man no no when i close my eyes
there's no other face that i see on may 22nd 1977 karen and sharon sanders who are identical twin sisters
told police a black man asked them for a ride and raped them on a desolate road two weeks earlier
the next day 25 year old vincent simmons was taken into custody as he was walking
down the street did they ever give you a ride no did you ever meet them at a gas station no
never i didn't rape karen and sharon's sadness i don't know these people the twins were
asked to identify a suspect when i saw him in that lineup i didn't have to think twice
when i looked at him i knew it the man they identified was 25 year old vincent simmons who police
arrested that day [Music] i'm sitting on the chair and handcuffed when he gets through he
said i want you to sign me i said what is that he said this is a confession saying that
you uh committed this crime and said what crime you know he said wait for those two
white girls that i don't even know these white girls that's insane it's horrible
it disgusted me vincent simmons is an innocent man who was railroaded by a racist system
less than 60 days after he was arrested vincent simmons went on trial what was the evidence against him
the testimony of the witnesses the victims the twins testified that on the night
they claimed they were raped vincent had told them his last name believe it or not
all night long we called him simmons he told us to call him simmons when it was the defense's turn vincent took the
stand i told the jury that i was innocent i didn't rape nobody after a two-day trial the jury had its
verdict vincent simmons was found guilty of attempted aggravated rape i was shocked
guilty i did nothing when the verdict came back guilty unanimously how did that feel sob relief
we knew we were free vincent simmons was sentenced to two consecutive 50-year terms a hundred
years behind bars from the moment he was found guilty vincent was determined to prove his
innocence more than four decades later in january 2020 justin bonus a lawyer from brooklyn
new york joined vincent's defense and was immediately skeptical of the prosecution's case
i looked at the discovery i was like well everything they said at trial is a lie
it's all a lie there's nothing that supports what they say included in that discovery were the
original statements the twins gave to police in 1977. remember how at trial they said they
knew his last name he told us to call him simmons turns out when they first spoke to police they
didn't say that when the girls initially went to police they didn't say the name
simmons no what name did they say they didn't give a name karen says they didn't initially give a name to police
out of fear i mean we were scared of him and see i don't know why i didn't i mean i think when i was here we were
afraid of him bonus also suggested a possible reason for the twins choosing vincent from the lineup in a photo that
appears to show the lineup bonus noticed that vincent was the only one wearing handcuffs when you saw that line of
photo what'd you think what i said this is crazy nuts highly suggestive when you put the cuffs
on them you're telling them that's who we want you to pick but charles riddle the current district
attorney says that photo was taken after the twins identified vincent they call it the lineup it was a photo of the
lineup after he was identified and placed in cuffs but how do you know it was after
because the girls told me that bonus cited another item in the file that he says is critical a report from a
doctor also the coroner who examined the girls two weeks after the reported rape
did not document any signs of sexual assault good deal do you think the coroner's report plays in this story
massive but riddle says the report does not prove that the twins were not raped because the definition of rape is
slightest penetration and the part about uh no sign of sexual assault after two weeks it's very
probable that there would be no sign of sexual assault still bonus says the jury should have
had the chance to consider all of that at trial his attorneys they had nothing they went in there flying blind with
their arms tied behind their back in a boxing match that's that's literally what it was so you're telling me the
original statements that the girls and keith gave to police where they could not identify this individual right that
was never heard by the jury absolutely not and the medical report from the coroner
was never heard by the jury right and the lineup photo not seen by the jury no in february 2022 bonus got a hearing
where a judge would decide vincent's fate once and for all what did the judge decide he decided to
give vincent a new trial because of the constitutional violation that he didn't receive a fair trial at the hearing the
judge was careful to say he has no opinion on the guilt or innocence of vincent simmons it was now up to
district attorney riddle to decide whether he wanted to retry the case you stood up and said what
i said that he served enough time and that we're not going to prosecute him again
in the eyes of the people and the constitution he is presumed innocent and when charles riddle dismissed that case
that presumption of innocence carries you free you're free you're done the twins say they accept the judge's
decision but they are still hurt by it the legal system didn't just fail him it failed us in many ways also it's
frustrating because no one sees our bars they don't see our prison we still have our anxiety we still have
our depressions we still have our fears just hours after the judge delivered the
decision vincent simmons walked out of the louisiana state penitentiary he went in when he was just 25 years old and
walked out three days before his 70th birthday later that night vincent shared a
celebratory meal with his family and friends what's it like being out of prison oh
man this is a joy that is unexplainable really

In 1977, Vincent Simmons was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Decades later, a newly minted lawyer helped get him released. #VincentSimmons #48hours #truecrime

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

Vincent Simmons, wrongfully convicted, is released after 45 years in prison due to new evidence and a judge's ruling.

Key points

Vincent Simmons' Wrongful Conviction. Vincent Simmons was wrongfully convicted of attempted aggravated rape and spent decades in prison.
A New Trial Granted. In February 2022, a judge decided to grant Vincent a new trial due to a constitutional violation.
Vincent's Release. Vincent Simmons walked out of prison just days before his 70th birthday, free after decades.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I didn't rape nobody.

Vincent's declaration of innocence during the trial.

2:29WatchMay 21, 2022

Tension

75/ 100High tension

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