A man wrongly convicted of murder who spent more than three decades behind bars has been exonerated

A man wrongly convicted of murder who spent more than three decades behind bars has been exonerated after a witness admitted police had pressured him into falsely testifying.

Joaquin Ciria was arrested in 1990 for shooting and killing his friend, Felix Bastarrica, in #SanFrancisco.

His conviction was based on false witness testimony and police misconduct.

Mr Boudin issued a press release stating that his office was “proud of and grateful for” the work of the Innocence Commission in rectifying the wrongful conviction of Mr Ciria.

“Although we cannot give him back the decades of his life lost we are thankful that the court has corrected this miscarriage of justice,” he added.

The case against Mr Ciria has now been dismissed after a judge overturned his conviction.

No physical evidence had linked Mr Ciria to the crime, Mr Boudin said. Local police had believed Mr Ciria to be the shooter based on rumours and statements from the alleged getaway driver.

George Varela testified, in exchange for complete immunity, that he drove Mr Ciria to and from the scene.

Boudin stated that Mr Varela, who at the time was a teenager, had been pressured by police to name Mr Ciria as the murderer. It was upon Mr Varela’s admission to Mr Ciria’s family members that he had falsely testified, that the commission found out he had been falsely imprisoned.

Three witnesses testified in Mr Ciria’s trial, two of whom Mr Boudin’s office said were "cross-racial identifications by strangers whose views were compromised by distance and poor lighting during the late-night shooting.”

George Varela testified, in exchange for complete immunity, that he drove Mr Ciria to and from the scene.

Boudin stated that Mr Varela, who at the time was a teenager, had been pressured by police to name Mr Ciria as the murderer. It was upon Mr Varela’s admission to Mr Ciria’s family members that he had falsely testified, that the commission found out he had been falsely imprisoned.

Three witnesses testified in Mr Ciria’s trial, two of whom Mr Boudin’s office said were “cross-racial identifications by strangers whose views were compromised by distance and poor lighting during the late-night shooting.”
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