SAN DIEGO—
A Southern California man walked free over the weekend after spending 16 years behind bars for a crime he never committed.Reggie Cole, 35, spent 10 of those years in solitary confinement. His freedom comes with the help of his defense attorney Christopher Plourd and the California Innocence Project, based at California Western School of Law in San Diego .
"It's just beautiful, just beautiful," said Cole. "I am an innocent person, I am an innocent man, I've always known God would see me through. I would like to thank the brilliant Chris Plourd and the students who worked so hard to make this day possible."
Cole's nightmare began in 1994. Cole was convicted of killing Felipe Gonzales Angeles, but his supporters claimed the evidence was fabricated. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
"You are pretty much filled with sorrow and helplessness," said Cole.
Six years later, another inmate who had already killed eight people, attacked him in prison. While defending himself, Cole stabbed and killed that inmate, who went by the nickname "The Devil." Cole was charged with murder, and because he was already serving time for the 1994 murder, he faced the death penalty. Defense Lawyer Chris Plourd then stepped him to try and clear him.
"He actually referred me to a book that was written by an L.A. Times reporter about his L.A. crime," said Plourd.
After reading he book, "The Killing Season," Plourd knew his client was innocent.
During the investigation to clear Cole of the prison murder charge, Plourd uncovered exculpatory evidence for the 1994 murder. He tracked down the witness who helped convict his client and proved that he had fabricated his testimony. He also found fingerprint and DNA evidence that proved Cole had not committed the crime.
"Sixteen years, 16 years -- how can you have confidence in the justice system when they took me away from my family for 16 years?" said Cole.
"Oh yes, finally! I have been waiting on him, and I finally got him," said Cole's sister, Twanda Cole.
Cole will live with his family in the Los Angeles area. He said he eventually plans to attend school to become a lawyer.
