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Homeless man spends almost 3 years in jail -- and then is found not guilty

After two years and eight months in jail awaiting trial, a homeless man was freed when he was acquitted of an assault charge.

Jurors deliberated only one hour and 17 minutes before reaching their decision at the conclusion of a two-day trial in Joplin, Missouri.

Curtis Downton, 50, spent so much time in jail because he was from unable to post a bond that had been reduced to $3,500 within three months of his arrest in March 2006.

Downton was accused of attacking Steven Saunders, 46, as Saunders slept inside his home. But, the two men, friends for years before the alleged assault, provided substantially different accounts of what took place the night in question.

Read the Joplin Globe report here.

So much for the right to a speedy trial.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on November 26, 2008 (boomark / email).