Wrongfully imprisoned men receive $1.6mn in compensation for decades behind bars

Two men have been awarded more than $1.6 million in compensation for their wrongful convictions of murder and death sentences in 1975, and decades spent in prison.

The death sentences for the murder of Cleveland businessman Harry Franks were handed down in 1975 for three people: Wiley Bridgeman, Kwame Ajamu and Ricky Jackson. The sentences were later commuted to life in jail.

The case was destroyed when the key witness, who was 13 years old in 1975, recanted on his testimony, AP reported.
Ajamu – who was called Ronnie Bridgeman in 1975 – was released in 2003 after 27 years in prison. Wiley Bridgeman and Jackson were freed in November 2014 after nearly four decades behind bars.

READ MORE: Florida charged 14-year-old with felony hacking

As a compensation for wrongful imprisonment, the Ohio Court of Claims ordered to give $1.6 million to Wiley Bridgeman, now 60, and Kwame Ajamu, 57.

The sum includes damages: about $969,000 for Bridgeman and $647,000 for Ajamu, according to the court.

The sums also include compensation for years of lost salaries, the men’s attorneys Terry Gilbert and David Mills said, adding up to about $51,000 for each year spent behind bars and without work.

READ MORE:Shocking dashcam video shows fatal shooting of mentally ill Florida man

Gilbert said that no money can bring back the decades in prison, and the men deserve more, but added: “The state has limits on what they pay.”

He added: "But obviously they are grateful to have some resources to start their lives again.”

Last month, Ricky Jackson, now 58, was awarded over $1 million in compensation.

Dan Tierney, a spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, said the ruling is to be reviewed Monday.