Saint Paul, MINN – Monday night, after 20 years of serving a prison sentence for a wrongful murder conviction, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced the release of Marvin Haynes, from prison and the conviction vacated.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stated that Haynes’ conviction rested almost entirely on eyewitness identification and that there was no forensic evidence supporting the conviction, such as fingerprints or DNA. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office agreed that Haynes had proven his Constitutional rights were violated during his 2005 trial.
Representative Cedrick Frazier (DFL – New Hope) issued the following statement:
“I am pleased that long-awaited justice has finally been delivered for Mr. Marvin Haynes and his family. His wrongful conviction exposed the devastating consequences of systemic racism and biased practices within the justice system, particularly for Black men. Mr. Haynes' wrongful conviction robbed him of years of freedom and inflicted irreparable harm on his loved ones and community. This case compels us to confront the stark realities of how systemic racism and biased policies can contribute to injustices like this one. It serves as a stark call to action to dismantle any system that will not ensure a just and equitable future for all.”