Maurice Hastings, a 72-year-old man wrongfully imprisoned for 38 years, has reached a record-breaking settlement of $25 million with the city of Inglewood, following a civil rights lawsuit. The agreement was announced on Tuesday, just days before a scheduled trial in Los Angeles federal court.
Hastings, who was convicted in 1983 for robbery, homicide, and sexual assault—crimes he did not commit—was exonerated in October 2022 after DNA evidence pointed to another suspect. The long wait for justice came to an end after new testing conclusively identified Kenneth Packnett as the true perpetrator.
Despite multiple alibi witnesses confirming Hastings’ whereabouts at the time of the crimes, there was little physical evidence tying him to the acts. Prosecutors originally sought the death penalty against Hastings, yet after a lengthy jury deliberation, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
For years, Hastings pleaded for DNA testing of biological evidence collected during the investigation. His requests dated back to at least 2000, when he wrote to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, insisting that the untested evidence would prove his innocence.
The recently announced settlement marks a significant moment in California’s legal history, as it represents the largest payout in the state’s wrongful conviction case. Attorneys for Hastings praised the agreement as a vital step in acknowledging the injustices he faced.
“This historic settlement is a powerful vindication for Mr. Hastings,” stated Nick Brustin, one of Hastings’ attorneys. “He has shown remarkable fortitude in fighting to prove his innocence, and now the city must bear the consequences of the egregious misconduct that led to his wrongful conviction.”
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. acknowledged the challenges of compensating someone for the lost years of their life due to wrongful imprisonment. “There is no way you can make someone whole for losing 38 years of their life, their formative years in adulthood and the opportunity to have a family,” he said. “That being said, this is the best that can be done, and we in the city wish him the best as he moves on with his life.”
Hastings’ ordeal began when he was arrested at the age of 31 for the 1983 carjacking, rape, and murder of Roberta Wydermyer, along with the attempted murders of her husband and a friend. His first trial ended in a hung jury, leading to a second trial that stretched for four months and included over 100 witnesses.
Ultimately, Hastings was convicted after the jury deliberated for two weeks, a decision that was later overturned when new evidence emerged. A Superior Court judge declared him factually innocent on March 1, 2023, following a joint motion by the Los Angeles County district attorney and the Los Angeles Innocence Project at California State University, Los Angeles.
The DNA evidence revealed that Packnett, a convicted sex offender who had been arrested for similar offenses, was the person responsible for the crimes linked to Hastings. Packnett had been released shortly after committing the crimes against the Wydermyers and passed away in prison in 2020 while serving time for other charges.
Today, Hastings is looking to rebuild his life in Southern California, where he actively contributes to his community by volunteering and engaging with his church. Reflecting on his experiences, he expressed gratitude for the support he has received throughout his challenging journey.
“No amount of money could ever restore the 38 years of my life that were stolen from me,” Hastings commented. “But this settlement is a welcome end to a very long road, and I look forward to moving on with my life. I thank God that I’ve made it to the other side of this decades-long ordeal, and I thank my family and legal team for their steadfast support over the years.”
image source from：patch
