Glynn Simmons, a 71-year-old man who spent nearly five decades in prison for a murder he did not commit, will receive a $7.15 million settlement from the city of Edmond, Oklahoma.
Simmons, who is black, was exonerated last year after serving 48 years, one month, and 18 days in prison, making him the inmate who spent the most time behind bars before being exonerated in US history.
The settlement resolves claims against the city and one of the detectives involved in his wrongful conviction.
Simmons’ lawyers described the payment as a “partial settlement” of his lawsuit against the cities and police who allegedly falsified evidence to frame him for murder.
Simmons was convicted in 1975, along with Don Roberts, based solely on the testimony of a teenage customer who survived a shooting during the robbery.
However, a subsequent investigation cast doubt on the reliability of her identifications, and both men maintained their innocence throughout their trial.
Simmons’ conviction was thrown out in July last year, and he was officially declared innocent in December.
