A very short joy for the oppressed who was unjustly imprisoned for 30 years

 Claude Jarrett spent 30 years behind bars after being accused of a crime he did not commit. He was released from prison in May this year, but he only enjoyed his freedom for a few months.

Garrett was wrongfully accused of killing his partner, Lori Lance, in 1992, and according to the Daily Star, they were together at a local restaurant, before they went to their home in Old Hickory, Tennessee (US), where a fire broke out in their sleep.

Claude admitted that he was asleep and when he woke up he discovered a fire in the living room, and according to the police report, Claude woke his partner and tried to take her with him to the front door.

Instead, she turned and headed for the back door, while Claude ran away and called the firefighters.

When the fire brigade arrived, Claude was trying to put out the fire with a hose, and he also tried to open a door with an ax.

While the firefighters were trying to get the fire under control, Claude kept telling them, "I don't understand why, I don't understand why you didn't follow me out the door (referring to his partner)."

In the end, firefighters later found Laurie's body in the utility room, suffocated from smoke inhalation.

Investigators then found what they believed to be evidence of arson, including what appeared to be evidence of heating oil being spilled on the floor.

Despite his insistence on his innocence, Claude was charged with guilt and sentenced to life imprisonment.

But earlier this year, after years of appeal, Criminal Court Judge Monty Watkins ruled that Claude had shown "actual innocence".

The judge concluded: "The Court is satisfied that the petitioner has presented clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable jury would convict Claude Jarrett of murder in light of the new scientific evidence."

Which played down the importance of ancient evidence of arson.

Claude was then released after thirty years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

His girlfriend Liliana Segura wrote: 'Since then, over the past five months, Claude has enjoyed his freedom.

He enjoyed every moment with his daughter, Diana, and his grandson, who absolutely adored him.”

But on October 30, the 66-year-old died in his sleep, after just six months of freedom.

His girlfriend regretted his death and his plans that went in vain as he planned to hold the state accountable for his wrongful conviction that had stolen all his years of life.

"It is incomprehensible to me how the people who bear the greatest responsibility for stealing so much of his life will never have to face what they did, and will live after it," Liliana said.

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