Two-time Olympic champion Maya Moore has justified the black man Jonathan Irons in the robbery and armed attack case. The American basketball player, who many call one of the best in history, deliberately suspended her successful career to help Irons get out of prison after 22 years in prison.
Irons was convicted in 1998 because at the age of 16 he allegedly entered a strange house with the purpose of robbery and attacked the owner - he received gunshot wounds in his arm and temple, but survived. At first, the victim could not identify the attacker, but after a while he declared that it was Irons who broke into him.
During the trial, the prosecution insisted that the young man allegedly confessed to the crime, but there were no recordings of the conversation. During the process, no other evidence was presented against Irons - other witnesses, fingerprints or DNA analysis. However, a jury consisting solely of whites found Irons guilty. The court sentenced him to imprisonment for a term of 50 years.
In 2007, Moore found out about the Irons case. She met a convict during a visit to a prison in her hometown of Jefferson City. Soon, a friendship was established between the basketball player and Irons.
At that time, Moore was just starting her basketball career. Over time, the highest achievements in sports obeyed her. Together with the US team, Moore won the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016, and also won the world championships in 2010 and 2014. Since 2011, Moore has performed in the women's NBA for the Minnesota Links club and won four league titles with him, she was recognized as the most valuable player of the season and the final series. The athlete also spent some time in Russia - in 2018, she represented the Yekaterinburg UMMC and won the national championship and the Euroleague with him.
In recent years, Moore has become a member of the Black Rights movement and a supporter of changes in the American justice system. In 2017, she gave an interview in which she spoke about the Irons case. The athlete made it clear that she considers the verdict unfair and will seek its review.
Due to her employment in basketball, Moore could not pay due attention to her human rights activities, and then in 2019, she unexpectedly announced that she intended to take a break and skip the whole next season. The athlete said she wants to devote this year to family and religious service, and also finally achieve release for Irons.
In 2020, Moore again surprised basketball fans, extending the pause in his career for another year. She noted that she was ready to miss the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which at that time had not yet been rescheduled for next summer because of the coronavirus.
In March, Moore finally achieved her goal - the court overturned Irons' initial sentence. Missouri Attorney General's Office tried to appeal the decision, but the state supreme court upheld it. The last word was left to the chief prosecutor of the district where the crime was committed. However, on July 1, it became known that he had refused a re-trial, and Irons was able to immediately leave the prison. In freedom, he was met by his family and Moore.
“I feel that now I can live a full life. I am free, I am blessed, I just want to live a life worthy of God's help and God's protection. Thanks to everyone who supported me, especially Maya and her family, ”Irons said after his release.
Now Moore, who turned 31 years old, will be able to think about returning to basketball. In her previous statements, she claimed that she did not intend to completely end her career, so she would still have the chance to speak at the Olympics and win her third gold.