Connecticut to award nearly $6 million to family of disabled man wrongfully imprisoned for murder conviction

Connecticut is acceptable to wage astir $5.9 cardinal to the household of a disabled antheral who was wrongly imprisoned for much than 2 decades earlier helium was freed successful 2015 erstwhile his 1992 conviction successful the execution and rape of an 88-year-old grandma was overturned.

Richard Lapointe, who died astatine property 74 successful 2020, had Dandy-Walker syndrome, a uncommon congenital encephalon malformation that his lawyers accidental was a origin successful his mendacious confession. Lapointe was ne'er declared innocent, but his lawyers and the authorities lawyer general's bureau yet agreed to settee aft years of ineligible battles.

The authorities claims commissioner's bureau connected Jan. 2 acceptable the wealth to beryllium awarded to the family, though it inactive needs to beryllium approved by the legislature. The claims commissioner's bureau determines whether radical tin record lawsuits against the authorities oregon person wealth nether the state's wrongful incarceration law.

Claims Commissioner Robert Shea Jr. said his bureau agreed that the grant is "reasonable and appropriate."

CONNECTICUT LAWYER INTRODUCES BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING ON FLIGHTS TO, FROM STATE

In this April 10, 2015, photo, Richard Lapointe, center, raises his arms with Kate Germond, left, and Paul Casteleiro, some of Centurion Ministries, aft helium was granted bail and released astatine the Connecticut Supreme Court successful Hartford, Connecticut. (AP)

Lapointe's attorney, Paul Casteleiro, said the grant is "a designation by the authorities of the incorrect it committed successful prosecuting and imprisoning an guiltless man. Sadly, Richard did not unrecorded agelong capable to witnesser his last vindication."

"The grant is by nary means capable compensation for what was done to Richard Lapointe," Casteleiro said Friday, adding that the authorities destroyed his client's beingness "for a transgression helium did not commit."

The lawyer general's bureau said successful a connection Friday that it "negotiated a solution of this assertion successful the interests of each parties. This reflects that process."

In 1987, Lapointe's wife's grandmother, Bernice Martin, was recovered stabbed, raped and strangled successful her burning flat successful Manchester, Connecticut.

Lapointe was convicted successful Martin's execution successful 1992 and sentenced to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of release. Key grounds successful the lawsuit included Lapointe's confessions during a astir 10-hour interrogation by Manchester police.

His lawyers argued his intelligence disablement attributed to him giving mendacious confessions and that the confession was coerced without his lawyers present.

Lapointe was convicted of execution successful 1992 and sentenced to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of release. (iStock)

The authorities Supreme Court ruled 4-2 successful a 2015 determination that Lapointe was deprived of a just proceedings since prosecutors did not disclose notes by a police officer that whitethorn person supported an alibi defense. Later that year, prosecutors said caller DNA investigating did not implicate Lapointe and each the charges were dropped.

Nobody other has been charged successful Martin's killing.

Lapointe was released from custody a abbreviated clip aboriginal and exited the Hartford courthouse wearing a achromatic T-shirt that work "I didn't bash it" arsenic helium threw his hands into the aerial successful triumph.

"Of people I didn’t bash it," Lapointe said astatine the time. "That wasn’t me. I wouldn’t bash thing similar that to nobody. I wouldn’t adjacent termination my worst enemy."

Casteleiro said the lawsuit against Lapointe destroyed his family, who shunned him.

BIDEN CLEMENCY FOR 'NON-VIOLENT' INMATES INCLUDES CONNECTICUT CHILD KILLER

The authorities Supreme Court ruled 4-2 successful a 2015 determination that Lapointe was deprived of a just trial. (iStock)

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Before Martin's death, Lapointe and his wife, who has cerebral palsy, "were making a beingness together. They were doing okay," Casteleiro said. But aft his arrest, his woman divorced him, and helium mislaid each interaction with his son, who was young astatine the time.

After his merchandise from prison, Lapointe began suffering from dementia, was placed successful a nursing location successful East Hartford and died aft a conflict with COVID-19, according to his lawyers.

Lapointe has been supported by respective advocates, including the groups Friends of Richard Lapointe and Centurion, an enactment Casteleiro works for that helps the wrongly convicted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.