ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Maryland man who was on death row for a murder he didn't commit and was later freed from prison because of DNA evidence is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his release.
Kirk Bloodsworth is marking the anniversary on Friday.
Bloodsworth was twice convicted of a girl's 1984 murder, and he spent two years on death row following his first trial. A second trial brought another conviction, although he received a life sentence instead of capital punishment.
Bloodsworth was cleared in 1993, becoming the first American freed because of DNA evidence after being convicted in a death penalty case.
He has worked to ban the death penalty. This year, Maryland lawmakers banned capital punishment, and Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the bill.
