Kenny Richey freedom marks successful end to hard fought campaign - Ludford

10.58.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Dec 2007

Commenting on the news that Kenny Richey, a Scottish man who spent 20 years on death row in America after a botched trial, is finally due to be released as part of a plea bargain, Liberal Democrat international human rights spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP applauded the campaigners who refused to give up.

"Kenny Richey's freedom at last after a hard-fought campaign is a lesson in how determined and relentless pressure for justice can make a difference."

"This result is as far as the state of Ohio will go in admitting that they made a mistake. But at least this miscarriage of justice was retrievable, which execution would not have been. In the week that the UN General Assembly voted to stop executions, more and more Americans are realising that the death penalty is wrong."

Sarah Ludford herself campaigned strongly for Mr Richey's release through correspondence with the US President and the Governor of Ohio and a petition of MEPs, in support of the work of the charity Reprieve and the Kenny Richey Campaign.

"Both Reprieve and the Kenny Richey Campaign refused to give up. It is through their admirable hard work and passionate campaigning that Kenny can now come home."

Notes:

More information about the release of Mr Richey can be found here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7152577.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2230043,00.html