After 21 Years, He Finally Walks Free

After 21 years behind bars for a murder he insists he didn’t commit, Marquez Powell walked free this week thanks to groundbreaking DNA evidence that exonerates him and points to the real killer. Convicted in 2008 at age 23 under a flawed “party to the crime” theory, Powell’s case was reexamined and ultimately overturned after new forensic science proved he was merely a witness—not a participant—in the 2005 killing of his best friend, Shah Walton. The Georgia Innocence Project and Fulton County’s Conviction Integrity Unit played key roles in his release, which came via virtual court on June 18. Now 41, Powell faces the daunting task of rebuilding his life—with a GoFundMe campaign helping him make that transition. This case is a stark reminder of how science can finally deliver justice, even decades after the fact. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fd330d107ab38b8e