'It's clear that I'm innocent': Wrongly convicted man spends 20 YEARS incarcerated then stuns judge with controversial request

'I've been transparent and forthcoming with information to prove my innocence.'

Richard Rosario spent 20 years in prison for a crime he never committed. When the courts were prepared to dismiss the case against him, Rosario made what some would call a foolish move.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "I've been in prison for 20 years for a crime I didn't commit," Rosario told the court.

"My family didn't deserve this. I didn't deserve this, and nor does the family of the victim."

Rosario was wrongly convicted for the murder of 17-year-old Jorge Collazo in 1996.

He was sentenced though he had over 12 alibi witnesses claiming he was over 1,000 miles away in Florida when Collazo was shot in the Bronx, yet still he was charged.

Last month Rosario was released from prison when Bronx District Attorney Dercel Clark claimed the '96 trial was not a fair one since defense attorneys did not do enough to track down the alibi witnesses.

Clark noticed Rosario's attempts to enter his case into the court of appeals was constantly rejected, so he took a look and sent investigators to check his alibis.

In court, Rosario stated: "It's clear that I'm innocent. I've been in prison for 20 years saying that I'm innocent.

"I've been transparent and forthcoming with information to prove my innocence. And it seems that the NYPD and the DA's office position is that the truth doesn't matter. The public should know the truth."

It was then that Rosario claimed his case should not be closed until he was proven innocent.

"Mr. Rosario, you realize that by doing this you are asking to keep a murder indictment against you," Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Torres asked. "This is a very unusual application."

Rosario insisted and Judge Torres asked both prosecutors and Rosario's lawyers for written arguments.

The case has since been rescheduled for August 30.

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