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After nearly 40 years in prison, a wrongfully convicted man is free

A Black man who spent nearly four decades in prison for a murder he did not commit was released in the state of California on Friday (Oct 28) after DNA tests showed he was not the killer.
Maurice Hastings, 69, had his murder conviction overturned by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office after he was wrongly convicted for the 1983 abduction and killing of Roberta Wydermyer, 30, in the city of Inglewood.
“I'm not pointing fingers. I'm not standing up here a bitter man,'' Hastings said at a news conference. “But I just want to enjoy my life while I have it. And I just want to move forward.''
Newly-tested DNA evidence exonerated Hastings of the crime and identified a different person as the murderer.
The district attorney’s office said the real killer died in 2020 while serving a sentence for a separate kidnapping and rape.
“What has happened to Mr. Hastings is a terrible injustice,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement. “The justice system is not perfect, and when we learn of new evidence which causes us to lose confidence in a conviction, it is our obligation to act swiftly.”
The district attorney’s office worked in conjunction with the Los Angeles Innocence Project to file a motion to vacate Hastings' conviction.
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Gascon apologized to Hastings that the DNA evidence was not available at the time to prevent his conviction and prison sentence. “The system failed you,'' he said. “The system failed the victims.''
Gascon credited Hastings for pushing his office "to investigate your case.''
“You are a free man today because of your perseverance,'' said Gascón.
Hastings thanked all those who believed in him and prayed for him while he was imprisoned, including his mother, who died in June before she could see him exonerated.
“I prayed for many years that this day would come,” he said.
Source: aa
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- April 23, 2025
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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