The Legal Aid Society celebrated the release of George Bell, Rohan Bolt and Gary Johnson, New Yorkers who were wrongfully convicted of a double murder in Queens in 1996 and incarcerated for the last 24 years, as reported by The New York Times.

Their release follows a decision from Queens County Supreme Court Judge Joseph A. Zayas on a joint motion filed by the Queens District Attorney and lawyers for the three men vacating the three men’s convictions. The joint motion requested that the Court vacate all three convictions and release Bell, Bolt, and Johnson on their own recognizance following the revelation that prosecutors wrongfully withheld evidence from the defense lawyers for the three men. The defense motion also argues that the totality of the evidence establishes that the three men are innocent.

The Queens DA will advise the Court in 90 days whether she will consent to a finding that the convictions should be vacated on grounds of actual innocence.

David Crow, of The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Appeals Bureau, represents Mr. Bell on this matter.