An Arizona court has overturned the conviction of death row inmate Clarence Hill because of new DNA evidence. The court noted that, “It is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted Mr. Hill in light of the present DNA evidence.” Hill has spent 15 years on death row for the murder of his landlord, but new DNA tests have revealed that the victim was not the source of the blood found on Hill’s clothing and bedsheets during the investigation. The blood was used as evidence in the state’s case against Hill. Defense attorneys are now seeking his release. The state’s Attorney General must decide within weeks whether to appeal the court’s ruling or have the case sent back to Mohave County, where prosecutors can decide if Hill will face a new trial. (The Arizona Republic, April 20, 2005).

Since 1973, 119 persons have been exonerated and freed from death row, including 13 who have been found innocent through DNA testing. Seven people have been exonerated from Arizona’s death row, including Ray Krone who was freed based on DNA evidence.

See Innocence.