Saturday, August 08, 2009

Nigerian man freed after being only black man in line-up

A Nigerian convicted of assault in Spain was acquitted when he was found to have been the only black man in an identity parade used as key evidence in his conviction, the government-run news agency EFE have reported.

Henry Osagiede was facing 10 years in prison after being found guilty in 2008 by a Madrid court for attacking one woman and sexually assaulting another in 2005, EFE reported, citing the Supreme Court ruling which acquitted him.

"A badly assembled identity parade, with a lack of resemblance (between the suspects in the parade) can lead to mistaken identity and consequently an error of justice," EFE cited Spain's highest court as saying.

No comments: