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| Earl Washington Jr. |
By staff and wire reports
The Virginian-Pilot
RICHMOND
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed a new pardon this week for former death row inmate Earl Washington Jr., declaring him innocent of the 1982 rape and murder of a Culpeper woman.
Washington, who now lives in Virginia Beach, came within nine days of being executed for the murder of Rebecca Lynn Williams, a 19-year-old mother of three.
After DNA evidence raised questions about his guilt, his death sentence was commuted, but he remained in prison for years as he struggled to clear his name. He served a total of 17 years behind bars, nearly a decade of that on death row.
“I feel good about it and happy about it,” Washington said Friday night. “It was important to me to have it done because I don’t have to worry about it hanging over my head.”
In 2000, Gov. Jim Gilmore issued a pardon for Washington but stopped short of proclaiming his innocence. Kaine’s pardon is an unconditional exoneration.
“I have decided it is just and appropriate to grant this revised absolute pardon that reflects Mr. Washington’s innocence of the rape and capital murder of Mrs. Williams,” Kaine wrote.
Kaine’s action comes nearly three months after another man pleaded guilty in the case. Kenneth Maurice Tinsley admitted that he raped Williams and conceded in his plea agreement that there was sufficient evidence to convict him of her murder. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
Debi Cornwall, an attorney with New York-based Cochran, Neufeld & Scheck, which represented Washington, said Kaine’s pardon brings a welcome closure to the case.
“There was really no evidence left that anyone could point to that Earl Washington was guilty,” Cornwall said. “It’s the last step in a very long journey.”
In an = interview, Gilmore did not criticize Kaine’s decision to issue a new pardon.
“Gov. Kaine has to assess whether the new evidence about Tinsley rises to the level of a full exoneration, and that would be his decision as the chief executive,” Gilmore said.
Christina Nuckols, (804) 697-1562,
christina.nuckols@pilotonline.com
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Still a good idea......
The death penalty is still a good idea. This case and others like it are coming about because cases like this are beginning to get the evidence tested by DNA. DNA testing was not available when Mr. Washington was wrongly convicted. I hope every effort is made to test the evidence in cases like this.
Wow
The man came within nine days of being executed for a crime he didn't commit. Maybe the death penalty isn't such a good idea after all.
Of all the news...
This has to be the best feel good story in a long while. Bravo,Gov. Kaine for doing what is not only fair but just. Mr. Washington deserves to be able to move on with his life. Whatever he is paid does not give him back the years he lost but I'm sure it will help.