Since 1989, 209 people have been freed from prison as a result of advances in technology. Buffalo's Lynn DeJac is one more for the tally. However, she has made history by being the first woman to have her murder conviction overturned, according to The New York Times.
According to The Buffalo News, DeJac now walks free after a judge granted her a new trial. She will remain free until the trial, which is months away.
Let's recall that DeJac was found guilty of murder some 13 years ago. Even though new evidence can exonerate her, so far no one knows that level of involvement she had in the murder of her 13-year-old daughter, Crystallynn Girard.
It seems that society has taken too light a position on murder. Erie County district attorney Frank Clark has the right idea - he wants to try DeJac for second-degree manslaughter for her criminal indifference, according to The Buffalo News.
However, even if found guilty of second-degree manslaughter, the odds of DeJac returning to jail are slim since she has already served 13 years of the 25-year sentence, a much longer time than she would have received for second-degree manslaughter.
The fact that DeJac still might have played a role in her daughter's murder means that she still might be a criminal. The result of the old trial shouldn't have been so quickly disregarded.
The judge should have examined DeJac's appeal while she was still was in prison instead of dropping the murder charge and setting her free until her next trial date. Freedom from imprisonment should mean closure, but this legal struggle is far from over.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
