The State of Connecticut has settled with the Lapointe Family for nearly $5.9 million. Richard Lapointe was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for the rape-murder of Mrs. Bernice Martin.
In 1992, Richard A. Lapointe was sentenced to life plus 60 years for the 1987 rape-murder of Mrs. Bernice Martin.
Lapointe had Dandy walker Syndrome and was physically unable to carry out the crime which involved moving the body.
This case featured police misconduct (illegal wire taps), false confessions (Lapointe gave four and none matched the crime scene), a disputed timeline, and forensic arson detection.
Brief overview:
A new trial was ordered Oct 2012.
On March 31, 2015, the Connecticut Supreme Court ordered a retrial.
On April 10, 2015, Superior Court Judge Joan Alexander ordered Lapointe released on $250,000 security bond. Lapointe stayed at an undisclosed location.
On Oct 2, 2015, on International Wrongful Conviction Day, Lapointe was set free. The judge ruled he could not be retried.
In March 2019, Lapointe started procedures to seek compensation for his wrongful conviction to the amount of $13.5mio.
Richard Lapointe died Aug 4, 2020 of Covid19 complications.
You can read more detailed posts about this case here.
The rape-murder of Bernice Martin remains unsolved. DNA is available but so far no match has been found. Let’s hope that the authorities will not forget about her case.