Connecticut to Compensate Family of Wrongly Imprisoned Man Nearly 6 Million USD
Connecticut is set to pay nearly 5.9 million USD to the family of a disabled man who was wrongly imprisoned for more than two decades. Richard Lapointe, convicted in 1992 for the murder and rape of an 88-year-old grandmother, was freed in 2015 when his conviction was overturned.
Lapointe, who had Dandy-Walker syndrome, a rare congenital brain malformation, died at age 74 in 2020. His lawyers argue that this condition played a role in his false confession. Although he was never declared innocent, attorneys negotiated a settlement after years of legal battles.
The state claims commissioner's office announced on Jan. 2 that this compensation would be provided, pending approval from the legislature. The office assesses whether individuals can file lawsuits against the state under its wrongful incarceration law.
Claims Commissioner Robert Shea Jr. described the financial award as "reasonable and appropriate." Lapointe's attorney, Paul Casteleiro, commented that this is a recognition of the wrong committed in prosecuting an innocent man, lamenting that Lapointe did not live long enough to see his vindication.
Casteleiro emphasized that the compensation is insufficient for the damage done to Lapointe's life. The attorney general's office stated they negotiated the resolution in the interest of all involved, reflecting this process.
Lapointe was convicted following the murder of Bernice Martin, his wife's grandmother, found murdered in her apartment in Manchester, Connecticut in 1987. The case relied on his confessions gathered during a long police interrogation.
His lawyers argued that Lapointe's mental disability led to false confessions, which were coerced in the absence of legal counsel. In 2015, the state Supreme Court ruled that Lapointe had been deprived of a fair trial due to undisclosed evidence that could have supported his alibi. New DNA testing exonerated him, leading to the drop of all charges.
Upon his release, Lapointe displayed a T-shirt stating "I didn't do it," affirming his innocence to the public. Casteleiro noted that the wrongful conviction destroyed Lapointe's family life, leading to his wife's divorce and loss of contact with his son.
Following his release, Lapointe developed dementia, spent time in a nursing home, and ultimately passed away after battling COVID-19. Advocates, including Friends of Richard Lapointe and Centurion, worked to support him throughout his ordeal.
