A California man, who was wrongfully convicted for killing an ex-girlfriend and her son, has reached a $21 million settlement with the city of Simi Valley.
Four decades ago, Craig Coley, 71, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 1978 murder of his former partner, Rhonda Wicht, and her 4-year-old son, Donald, at their apartment.
He had always maintained his innocence and was pardoned in 2017 by California’s then-governor, Jerry Brown, based on exculpatory DNA evidence found by investigators.
Simi Valley City Manager Eric Levitt said in a statement: "While no amount of money can make up for what happened to Coley, settling this case is the right thing to do for him and our community."
Mike Bender, a close friend and former police detective in Simi Valley, a community outside Los Angeles, said that since his release, Coley has spoken to law enforcement officials about evidence collection and has met with parents of prisoners who maintain their innocence.
Bender had pushed for Coley’s release for nearly three decades after he became troubled by aspects of the case.
"Craig’s message is always don’t give up," Bender told Reuters by telephone.
California authorities awarded Coley $1.95 million last year, $140 for each day he spent in prison. It was the largest payout for a wrongful conviction by the state’s Victim Compensation Board.
