A courtroom full of family members and friends erupted in applause as Ruben Martinez Jr. was found innocent and walked free from Los Angeles Superior Court.
The rare reversal of fortune after all appeals had been exhausted came about after Martinezs wife, who had been a secretary for the Sheriffs Department, and a close friend who was a retired homicide detective prevailed on prosecutors to review the case. Investigators tracked down alibi witnesses who said Martinez was at work during some of the crimes that were believed to have been committed by a serial robber.
A jubilant Martinez, 49, said his prayers had been answered and that he was not a bitter man. He thanked his wife, Maria, for not only standing by him, but also pursuing his freedom vigorously.
I did not do this time by myself, Martinez said after the brief court hearing. My family did time. My wife did time with me, did the 11 years with me. I couldnt do it on my own, on my own strength. It was Gods strength that got me through this.
Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey apologized to Martinez for the injustice that led to a 47-year prison sentence. Lacey said a series of unfortunate and ultimately tragic circumstances led to the conviction and it was her job to right the wrong.
Its only the third time her office has supported vacating a conviction after establishing a unit in 2015 to review wrongful conviction claims. Martinezs case was the first time one of those claims had been brought by laypeople the prison inmate and his wife and not a lawyer.
Mr. Martinez and his wife proved to be unstoppable in their pursuit of his freedom, Lacey said. Throughout this terrible experience, the two were never deterred by setbacks and instead demonstrated remarkable strength and dignity through what I imagine must have been a dark time in their lives.
Martinez had been convicted in 2008 of five robberies at the same auto paint shop in the citys Boyle Heights neighborhood between 2005 and 2007. In all but one of those robberies, the robber wore a mask.
Martinez said he had no regrets about rejecting a plea deal that would have led to a 2-year prison sentence.
I would have been standing for a lie, Martinez said. If it happened again, I would stand up for the truth.
His first trial ended with a deadlocked jury. Two of the victims testified at that trial that Martinez was not the robber, said defense attorney Angela Berry, who was appointed for the exoneration hearing.
Berry said those witnesses were not called by the prosecution or the defense in the subsequent trial that ended with a conviction. Evidence that Martinez had been at work was not adequately presented at trial, attorneys said.
Five appeals with state and federal courts were all rejected.
Lacey said that former homicide detective Catherine Wills had tried for years to get her interested in the case, telling her about Martinez before she was elected in 2012.
She grabbed me by the hand and had a strong hold, and she said there is an innocent man in prison, Lacey recalled from her first meeting with Wills. You know, a lot of people say those things to you as D.A. But she was unwavering. She didnt say it one time, she said it multiple times.
Its only the third time her office has supported vacating a conviction after establishing a unit in 2015 to review wrongful conviction claims. Martinezs case was the first time one of those claims had been brought by laypeople the prison inmate and his wife and not a lawyer.
What? There is just no way a group of people dedicated to finding wrongfully convicted people only succeeded twice unless it is just for show and is covering for judges, prosecutors, and cops. Christ, they didn't even find this guy.
His first trial ended with a deadlocked jury. Two of the victims testified at that trial that Martinez was not the robber, said defense attorney Angela Berry, who was appointed for the exoneration hearing.
Berry said those witnesses were not called by the prosecution or the defense in the subsequent trial that ended with a conviction. Evidence that Martinez had been at work was not adequately presented at trial, attorneys said.
What the hell man, even the defense didn't call them? Fucking why? ---
