In a significant turn of events, Giovanni Hernandez and Miguel Solorio, two Los Angeles County men wrongfully imprisoned for decades, were officially declared innocent and released. The exoneration, announced Wednesday by the District Attorney’s Office, marks the end of a long struggle for justice for both individuals.
As reported by CNN, Giovanni Hernandez, convicted in 2012 for a 2006 drive-by shooting in Culver City, maintained his innocence throughout, asserting he was at home during the incident. His exoneration came after the Conviction Integrity Unit of the District Attorney’s Office reinvestigated his case, uncovering new witness testimonies and analyzing cellphone records that confirmed his absence from the crime scene.
Miguel Solorio, sentenced to life without parole for a 1998 shooting, spent 25 years in prison before his innocence was recognized. The shooting, which tragically killed 81-year-old Mary Bramlett, was attributed to Solorio as a case of mistaken identity. New evidence presented by the Northern California Innocence Project, including misidentification in a photo lineup, led to Solorio’s exoneration.
At a news conference, District Attorney George Gascón expressed profound regret for the wrongful convictions, highlighting the devastating impact of such errors, especially on young lives. Hernandez was only 14, and Solorio 19, at the time of their arrests.
Both men’s cases highlight the importance of continual review and integrity in the judicial process. Hernandez’s case received legal support from the Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic at Loyola Law School, while Solorio’s case was championed by the Northern California Innocence Project. Their release stands as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to correct miscarriages of justice in the legal system.