Nick Yarris sat on Pennsylvania's death row for 22 years for a crime he did not commit.
Released from prison just over six weeks ago, Yarris addressed a crowd of approximately 75 people yesterday at Pepper Hall, a Penn School of Law building. Yarris discussed his perceived injustices of the Pennsylvania death penalty system, as well as his exoneration and release from prison on Jan. 16.
Penn Law American Constitution Society's Speaker Co-Chairwoman Sarah Greenberger gave a brief introduction and was followed by Jeff Garis, executive director of Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty, who spoke briefly about Yarris.
Peter Goldberger, one of Yarris' several attorneys throughout his 22-year ordeal in a Central Pennsylvanian penitentiary, was next to address the crowd and discussed the legal specifics of Yarris' case, which included numerous hearings and several inconclusive DNA tests.
It was in 1981 that Yarris was charged with the brutal kidnapping, rape and murder of Boothwyn, Pa., resident Linda Mae Craig from the Tri-State Mall in Delaware. Yarris was quickly convicted of the crime, based solely on his blood type, which is shared by 20 percent of the population.
In 1988, while reading a newspaper, Yarris learned of a new DNA technology that he believed could prove his innocence. A lack of testable evidence from the crime scene and the autopsy, in conjunction with a system reluctant to support the costly DNA testing, delayed the analysis that would prove Yarris' innocence until 2003. On Sept. 13, he was exonerated of all crimes.
Yarris appeared solemn yet comfortable as he approached the microphone and began to recount his feelings concerning the injustice that had befallen him and further explain the technicalities of his case.
"I know what it's like to live without being alive," Yarris said, regarding the helplessness and hopelessness he experienced throughout his imprisonment, which included 14 years in solitary confinement.
Yarris expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to address a group composed primarily of law students, in the hope that these future defenders of the law would be influenced by his story.
Yarris advised students to adhere to their morals as they pursue their careers. "You have to find your own dignity," he said.
A brief question-and-answer session followed Yarris' talk, during which several students thanked Yarris for sharing his story and inquired about more specific aspects of his case and his current life.
Students expressed disappointment with the legal system after hearing Yarris' story.
"It was a unique opportunity to listen to a victim of the system. ... It was very moving," second-year Law student Gayatri Rao said.
Other audience members expressed similar sentiments.
"It made it horribly frustrating to hear how much the system doesn't work sometimes," first-year Law student Mark Ladov said.
The event was sponsored by a number of organizations both within and outside the University, including PAUDAP, Penn American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International at Penn and Penn Law ACS.
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