Prosecutor drops case against man imprisoned for 2 decades
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A North Carolina prosecutor is dismissing the case against a man imprisoned for two decades before a judge threw out his murder convictions this week.
A judge vacated convictions and ordered Darryl Howard's release Wednesday because of DNA evidence unavailable at Howard's 1995 trial in the double-murder case.
The judge ruled DNA evidence shows Howard did not rape a woman and her teenage daughter. No other physical evidence connected him to the deaths.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Durham District Attorney's office filed dismissal paperwork Friday.
Howard's case was originally handled by former prosecutor Mike Nifong, who was later disbarred for lying and misconduct in a case of rape accusations against Duke University lacrosse players who were later found innocent.
Innocence advocates are undertaking a massive review of convictions from Nifong's tenure.