Man exonerated in 1982 rape, slaying

WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia judge has declared that a 50-year-old man is innocent of a 1982 rape and slaying that put him in prison for 25 years.

Kevin Martin was issued a certificate of actual innocence on Monday following a more than 12-year effort to clear his name.

Martin entered an Alford plea in 1984 to one count of manslaughter while armed in the rape and killing of 19-year-old Ursula Brown. That’s a form of guilty plea in which a defendant does not admit wrongdoing but agrees the government has enough evidence for a conviction. He also pleaded guilty to two armed robberies in which he admitted his involvement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says DNA evidence later revealed that Brown was the victim of a serial rapist.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up