UTICA - A judge has overturned the conviction of an upstate New York man who spent 20 years in prison for the 1985 rape and murder of a teenage classmate.
Dozens of relatives and supporters who jammed a Utica courtroom applauded when the judge vacated Steven Barnes' murder conviction and the sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Barnes has maintained he didn't kill 16-year-old Kimberly Simon, who was a Whitesboro High School classmate. He was convicted in 1989.
The Innocence Project took up Barnes' case 12 years ago and worked with the Oneida County district attorney's office to get the conviction vacated based on new DNA evidence.
After the judge ordered his release Tuesday morning, Barnes said it was the happiest day of his life.
Barnes has maintained he didn't kill 16-year-old Kimberly Simon, who was a Whitesboro High School classmate. He was convicted in 1989.
The Innocence Project took up Barnes' case 12 years ago and worked with the Oneida County district attorney's office to get the conviction vacated based on new DNA evidence.
After the judge ordered his release Tuesday morning, Barnes said it was the happiest day of his life.
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