(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A Chicago man who has been in prison for 12 years after being convicted largely on the testimony of a legally blind witness is now a free man.
A judge recently overturned the conviction of Darien Harris, but prosecutors considered trying him again. On Tuesday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office dropped the charges.
Harris, now 30, had been convicted of a 2011 murder at a gas station at 66th and Stony Island, but the case hinged on testimony from a legally blind witness. Advocates for Harris noted other problems with the case, including testimony that allegedly was coerced.
Harris was expected to be released Tuesday – to the relief of his mother, Nakesha Harris.
“This is the best Christmas gift ever,” she told reporters at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.
Lauren Myerscough-Mueller, a lawyer with the Exoneration Project, praised State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for not moving forward with another prosecution.
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