Free man back from living hell

KENNY RICHEY finally walked free after spending almost half his life on Death Row – and told the world that he remains an innocent man.

At 2.30pm Ohio time the manacles around his wrists were finally unlocked, marking the end of a nightmare which had lasted for 21 years, six months, and seven days.

After promising a judge that he would leave Putnam County Court following his hearing yesterday afternoon, he walked down the steps of the jail to a car where his lawyer, Ken Parsigian, was waiting.

In a brief statement to a scrum of television reporters from across the globe, he said: "I want to thank all of those people who never doubted my innocence.

"It's great to finally be free at long last and I can't wait to get back to Scotland. It's been a long time coming."

Earlier, in a broad Edinburgh accent he has not lost in the 23 years since he was last in the Capital, he said: "I've spent all my adult life behind bars and walking free is the dream that's kept me going.

"I'll go home and hug my mum so tight she won't know what's hit her.

"I'll lie on my back and gaze at the big sky and feel the wind in my hair – what's left of it – and let out the biggest roar you've ever heard. And then I'll start my life all over again."

Richey's final steps to freedom began as he was delivered by sheriff's deputies to the Putnam County Courthouse at just after 1.20pm local time yesterday.

Outside the 95-year-old courthouse, satellite trucks from numerous TV stations sat in the road while television cameras lined an alley to the side of the building.

Clean-shaven Richey, wearing black shirt and trousers with a blue tie, appeared in court with his arms and ankles shackled.

His face pale after the illness which forced the cancellation of his original hearing, Richey sat with his hands clasped together, often fidgeting with his handcuffs and repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fist.

He spoke several times, but only to confirm to Judge Alan Travis that he understood the proceedings and the terms of his plea deal. Richey pleaded no contest to attempted involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to the time he has already served.

Edinburgh-raised Richey had been convicted in 1987 of an arson attack on an apartment block in an Ohio town in which a two-year-old girl died.

And before he was freed, Richey listened uncomfortably as the aunt of Cynthia Collins, the two-year-old girl who died in the fire, told the court that he would "burn in hell".

In an emotional "victim impact statement", Valerie Binkley broke down in tears as she said: "How do you go about putting into words what taking the life of a two-year-old means?"

Turning and pointing to Richey, less than ten feet away, Ms Binkley said: "But I want you to know you've fooled nobody no more. Nobody."

The judge heard Cynthia's father, Robert, could not face being in court, but had prepared a statement which was read out to the court.

He said: "I try not to think about how she died but it consumes my thoughts.

"The unthinkable reality of her choking, crawling, crying and her little lungs filling with smoke has been etched in my mind since her death. It's an ongoing nightmare."

Asked if he had anything to say to the court, Richey replied: "I'm fine."

Still handcuffed, Richey was escorted to a waiting police vehicle by sheriffs after making a brief statement to a scrum of television reporters.

He said: "There are innocent people on Ohio's Death Row – and they need your help."

There were at least 28, he said, and gave several names before urging investigators to look into their cases.

When asked if he was one of the innocent prisoners on Death Row, he replied: "I am one."

As he climbed inside the police vehicle, Richey was asked what he would do first upon being freed. He joked: "I'm going to get some nookie. I've not had any for 21 years."

The deputies drove him the one mile distance to the Putnam County Adult Detention Facility where he has spent most of the last month.

There, the guards led him to an administration office where he completed forms to officially "sign out" of the jail.

Sheriff James Beutler, who was in charge of guarding Richey, said his former prisoner was handed "minimal personal possessions" before being officially released at 2.30pm local time – 8.30pm in the UK.

A call had been made to Mr Parsigian asking him to arrange for his client to be picked up outside the prison and taken to his brother's home in Cloverdale.

Richey was today expected to catch a flight from Dayton, Ohio to Chicago before transferring to a flight to Heathrow.

He is due to fly from London to Edinburgh and arrive at around 2pm tomorrow.

His former fianceé Karen Torley, from Glasgow, who has campaigned for his release for more than ten years, said last night: "There have been times when we have wanted to give up but he always fought back because he's an innocent man.

"I think he'll get a good reception in Scotland because he has a lot of supporters, friends and family here."

But consultant forensic psychologist Ian Stephen warned that returning to Scotland in 2008 will prove a major shock after long years in captivity.

Mr Stephen, a committee member of the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation in Scotland, said: "It will be a strange world for him as he was staying in America and Scotland is a different place now than it was 20 years ago.

"He is re-emerging into a country he just doesn't know and it takes a long time to adapt."