Louisiana Inmate Released on Bail After Decades on Death Row

A Louisiana man, Jimmie Duncan, was released on bail after spending nearly three decades on death row for the 1998 murder of 23-month-old Haley Oliveaux, a conviction that was overturned due to unreliable forensic evidence. Judge Alvin Sharp ruled that the evidence presented indicated Duncan’s likely innocence, supported by the child’s mother, who now believes her daughter died from accidental drowning. Duncan’s release follows a significant evidentiary hearing, and while prosecutors seek to reinstate his conviction, he has posted a $150,000 bond and plans to live with a relative. This case highlights issues surrounding flawed forensic science, particularly bite mark analysis, which has contributed to wrongful convictions.

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