DNA frees 2 US men jailed for '83 rape, murder

New DNA evidence has freed a death-row inmate after he spent three decades in prison for rape and murder. His half-brother was expected to be freed later on Wednesday.

Henry Lee McCollum spoke briefly to reporters before getting into the passenger seat of his fathers car, where a reporter had to show him how to buckle the seat belt. He had never used a seat belt of that design.

Mr. McCollum said he hoped to go home and take a bath. There will be changes to which hell need to adjust particularly the Internet and cellphones, he said.

A judge overturned their convictions after another mans DNA was discovered on a cigarette butt left near the girls body. Tuesdays ruling is the latest twist in a notorious legal case that began with what defence attorneys said were coerced confessions from two scared teenagers with low IQs. Mr. McCollum was 19 at the time and Leon Brown was 15.

Superior Court Judge Douglas Sasser said the new DNA results contradicted the case prosecutors put forward.

The DNA from the cigarette butts doesnt match Mr. Brown or Mr. McCollum, and fingerprints taken from a beer can at the scene arent theirs either, attorneys say. No physical evidence connects them to the crime.

Both were initially given death sentences, which were overturned. At a second trial, Mr. McCollum was again sent to death row, while Mr. Brown was convicted of rape and sentenced to life.

Family members of the men gasped and some sobbed as the judge announced his decision to the packed courtroom. Mr. Brown smiled and shook a defence lawyers hand and Mr. McCollum looked spent and relieved

We waited years and years, said James McCollum, Henry McCollums father. We kept the faith.

Defence lawyers petitioned for their release after a recent analysis from the butt pointed to another man who lived near the soybean field where Sabrina Buies body was found in Robeson County. That man is already serving a life sentence for a similar rape and murder that happened less than a month later.

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DNA frees 2 US men jailed for '83 rape, murder