After 40 years Louis Taylor is finally a free man.
The 59-year old, made a deal with prosecutors Tuesday after spending four decades in jail for a 1970 hotel fire in Arizona, that claimed the lives of 29 people, CBS News reported.
Taylor, who was 16-years old at the time of his arrest, has always maintained his innocence. Being an African-American, he believed that the all-white jury who convicted him acted in prejudice.
In court Tuesday, Taylor pleaded “no contest” to the 28 murder counts that were brought against him. “Welcome back Mr. Taylor,” were the words he heard from Superior Court Judge Richard Fields once the proceedings were finished.
Despite Taylor’s continued claim of innocence, he entered a plea of “no contest” to expedite his release from prison. According to Defense Attorney Michael Piccareta, the team of lawyers representing Taylor were confident they could have gotten him exonerated.
Taylor is expected to be fully released Tuesday or Wednesday. His original sentence consisted of 28 life sentences that were to be served consecutively.
Paul d’Hedouville, whose father was killed in the fire, spoke at the hearing on Tuesday. His father had been awaiting the arrival of his family for the Christmas holiday. All family plans were destroyed by the tragedy.
"Instead, my father was buried on Christmas Eve 1970," d'Hedouville said.
He also had a message for Taylor.
“Do as you choose Mr. Taylor. But choose wisely. Do not waste your new beginning," he said. "I harbor no feelings of ill will or vengeance against you."
While Taylor is now a free man, his plea of “no contest” prevents him from suing the state for a wrongful conviction. He would have had to add a few more years to the total of 40, since it would take about two or three years to be exonerated in a new trial.
Attorney Ed Novak said the situation was “ a question of freedom now versus freedom three years from now.”
