Draft:Wrongful convictions of Charles Collins and Brian Boles
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Charles Collins and Brian Boles were two American men who were wrongfully convicted in 1994 for murder, and served 30 years in prison before they were found to be wrongfully convicted.[1]
Background and conviction
[edit]On February 8, 1994, octogenarian James Reid was murdered in his apartment. Police suspected Brian Boles as a suspect of the murder because he was also living in the apartment at the time. Three days later, police interviewed Boles and his father in connection with the murder of Reid. Boles said he was staying with Charles Collins at the time of the murder.[2]
On March 22, 1994, Boles was arrested in connection with the murder. After being interrogated, he confessed to the murder. Collins confessed nine days later. Both men were coerced in to confessing.[2][3]
Exoneration
[edit]On July 10, 2025, Alvin L. Bragg moved to vacate the convictions of Collins and Boles, citing DNA evidence and the fact that neither of them had received due process during their trial.[4] The convictions were then vacated based on the DNA evidence from James Reid's fingernails excluding Collins or Boles as the perpetrators.[5]
"Cannot undo the past"
[edit]Bragg stated afterward that the justice system could not undo the past, since Collins and Boles had wrongly spent 30 years in prison. Collins and Boles stated they lost years of their life due to the justice system.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Brian Boles and Charles Collins are Exonerated After 30 Years".
- ^ a b Otterbourg, Ken. "Charles Collins | National Registry of Exonerations".
- ^ Press • •, Jennifer Peltz | The Associated (2025-07-10). "2 men cleared in 1994 Harlem killing that sent them to prison for decades". NBC New York. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ "D.A. Bragg Moves to Vacate Two Unjust 1994 Homicide Convictions". 10 July 2025.
- ^ "Brian Boles and Charles Collins are Exonerated After 30 Years".
- ^ "Duo exonerated in brutal 1994 NYC murder -- after they wrongly served decades in prison". 10 July 2025.
- ^ "2 NYC men exonerated after spending decades in prison - CBS New York". CBS News. 15 July 2025.