Man Released From Prison After 44 Years
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Cheers and hugs erupted inside a courtroom Friday morning after a judge declared a man, after spending 44 years in prison, would be freed.
Prince Johnson, now a 60-year-old man, was convicted in 1971 for the murder of an ice cream truck driver in Coconut Grove. On Friday—Johnson was declared a free man.
Emotional family members said they had waited a long time for this moment.
"Oh I'm so happy. I want everyone to know it is a God up above," said Johnson's sister Olive Coley.
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Johnson, who was 16-years old at the time of the conviction, had been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the crime.
Both the prosecutor and his defense attorney agreed he was not the shooter.
Johnson never pulled the trigger but the law then allowed him to be convicted of felony murder.
Family of the victim Marta Roman was not in court Friday.
The court ruled Johnson's sentence to life in prison was unlawful based on the Supreme Court decision that requires proper sentences for juveniles convicted to life felonies.
"This is what being a public defender is all about. This means redemption. This means second chances," said Public Defender Gale Lewis.
CBS4's Court Producer Jasmine Kripalani contributed to this report.
