Man exonerated after spending 38 years in jail for crime he didn't commit

Maurice Hastings is now a free man after DNA evidence cleared me of crimes he was convicted for in 1988.

FOX 11 delivers breaking news, live events, undercover investigations, police chases, true crime files, business news, celebrities and entertainment on Good Day LA (GDLA) and local stories from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena and across the nation.

Watch more FOX 11 on YouTube:

[prphet]

There's no amount of money that can make up for 38 years in prison.

[bakersdirtydozen]

A request for DNA testing of the swab in 2000 was denied by the district attorney... That decision cost Mr. Hastings 22 more years of life so it's only fair that Maurice takes 22 years of the DA's retirement funds.

[geerowr.]

THIS is how to destroy a man w/o killing him. Shame.

[ogshoeplugogshoeplug]

The government owes this man an American Express Black Card with no spending limit for the rest of his life. What do you think?

[wornshoes]

Time to hand over that unclaimed California Lottery ticket to this man. He deserves it!

[MarioLoco]

38 years?! my god, that is a life wasted. That poor soul.

[richardthekingransom]

This is exactly why I will NEVER have all my faith in the system or the law… it’s heavily flawed…

[toonmama]

My heart dropped. 38 years. How does this happen.

[PinkStar]

This is my great uncle. He went into prison when my mother was 12 years old and so far he has missed the death of his nephew, the death of his mother, and he has missed many births of grand nephews and nieces including myself. I never got to meet him and never thought I would, I'm 17 now and I'm extremely thankful that I'm going to have th opportunity to meet him after hearing so many stories, though I'm still furious that his life was taken away like this.

[stoptheviolence]

This system needs to speed up the process of uncovering innocent inmates this is ridiculous

[Summer-rbol]

His first trial ended in a hung jury…. That in itself speaks volumes. Also prosecutors sought the death penalty!! It takes far too long for cases where there is new evidence to be heard!

[TECHN]

This is unreal! Hope the state gives him enough financial compensation to live comfortably

[rf]

Nothing can make up the injustice done to this man.
I read he stated he is not bittered by what happened to him.
Wining people all over the world nowadays about nothing.
And then there is this man, he has all my respect.

[heirofthenazareen]

When the black man stands accused, the trial is always short and the verdict predetermined.

[PsychicMike]

Pay that guy! Seriously. Pay him at least 8 digits.

[ogshoeplugogshoeplug]

If anyone took 38 years of my life, we'd have a big problem.

[DCThePurpleDiva]

This is my ex husband’s brother and my son’s uncle, the original case was a true miscarriage of justice! God is so good!

[maniackolder]

Yes blame the Prosecutor and the police for the set up but ABSOLUTLY blame the jury who convicted him on ZERO evidence. So much for proven beyond reasonably doubt.

[chalocolina]

I think this kind of tragedy would be a lot less common if the cops, prosecutors, judges, and jurors who screwed up were locked up in the same prison for the same amount of time as the person they wrongly convicted. It would bring into focus what "beyond a reasonable doubt" means.

[joeldriver]

That's incredibly sad. The first DNA evidence that was ever used in an actual case was 1986 which was 36 years ago. Makes it even worse knowing he could have been freed long ago.