Tears of Joy that Heal the Spirit

Published:

Mary Virginia Jones  Released From Prison After 32 Years For A Crime She Didn’t  Commit

mary virginia jones

Overjoyed family members greeted 74-year-old Mary Virginia Jones when she stepped out of the Century Regional  Detention Facility in Lynwood, California at 11 pm, Monday, the Los Angeles  Times reported. The last time she was out as a free woman was when Ronald  Reagan had just taken oath as the President of the United States. The innocent  grandma had spent 32 years of her life in prison for a murder she didn’t  commit.

Virginia had been serving a life sentence at the Lynwood facility for her  alleged role in a murder committed by her boyfriend Mose Willis back in 1981.  Mose, who was sentenced to death died while on death row. Virginia on the other  hand was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment  without parole.

It was cries of ‘Thank you Jesus!’ and ‘Hallelujah’ that greeted people assembled at the Los Angeles  courtroom where Judge William C. Ryan finally pronounced Virginia to be freed,  the Daily Times reports. The family that included Virginia’s daughter  Denitra Jones-Goodie, couldn’t control their emotions and sobbed. Denitra later  told reporters she had lost all hopes of seeing Mary as a free woman who had  been in the past subjected through four separate trials, one reversal of appeal  and two hung juries. “She never should have been incarcerated in the first  place, but she’s free, thank God,” Jones-Goodie said.

Virginia Mary Jones during her hearing

Virginia Mary Jones during her hearing

Earlier, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office reviewed the case and  agreed to set aside her convictions if she pled no contest to voluntary  manslaughter. Virginia, using a magnifying glass to read her plea in the  courtroom said, “I did not willingly participate in this crime, but I believe  entering a no contest plea is in my best interest.”

The crime leading to Virginia’s arrest and the subsequent sentencing happened  back in 1981 when Jones’ abusive boyfriend kidnapped two drug dealers and forced  Jones to drive to an alley. He killed one of the dealers there while Virginia,  who feared for her own life escaped from there – only to be arrested days later  for the “crime” she had committed. All through her trial, Virginia maintained  that Willis had forced her to do things at gunpoint. None of the subsequent  trials took into account the fact that she has a history as a battered victim –  directing attorney, Heidi Rummel, of the told reporters. It also took four  excruciatingly long trials for the jury to reach her conviction.

A young Virginia Mary Jones from a portrait provided by her family

A young Virginia Mary Jones from a portrait provided  by her family

If Mary has anybody to be thankful to, it has to be the students from UCLA’s  Post-Conviction Justice Project who challenged Virginia’s conviction. Their  argument in favor of Mary was the fact that the jury that convicted her never  heard testimony on the effects of what was then known as Battered Women’s  Syndrome. Had they done so, Virginia would have never been convicted. UCLA  Student Laura Donaldson told reporters, “the procedural history of Mary’s case  gave me a greater appreciation for the pitfalls of the justice system.”

Denitra Jones-Goodie with the law students of UCLA who strived to facilitate Virginia's freedom

Denitra Jones-Goodie with the law students of UCLA  who strived to facilitate Virginia’s freedom

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1187418/mary-virginia-jones-released-from-prison-after-32-years/#OmtqYxWWlbVOMArE.99

Entry #340

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