Man cleared of murders after decades in jail
A man imprisoned for nearly four decades over the stabbing deaths of a mother and daughter has walked free after being declared innocent.
Joseph Sledge, 70, is the eighth inmate exonerated of criminal charges following reviews by the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission.
Mr Sledge was sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing Josephine Davis and her adult daughter, Aileen Davis, in their North Carolina home in September 1976.
He has maintained his innocence since the very beginning.
The day before the murders he had escaped from a nearby prison where he was serving time for stealing, but had no history of violence, his attorneys said.
DNA testing in 2012 showed hairs found at the crime scene, and believed to belong to the killer, did not come from Sledge, according to his attorneys.
After hearing his case in December, the state's innocence commission concluded there was enough evidence suggesting Mr Sledge was not guilty to warrant further review by a three-judge panel.
The panel voted unanimously that Mr Sledge had proven his innocence and ordered he be released.
Columbus County district attorney Jon David apologised to Mr Sledge following the panel's decision.
Authorities have vowed to reopen the double murder case to determine the true killer, local news reported.
Morning news break – January 26
