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Richey lawyer scoops major award



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Published Date: 12 May 2008
THE lawyer who helped to free Kenny Richey from Death Row has been recognised with a major legal award.
Ken Parsigian, a partner in the firm Goodwin Proctor, has received the Boston University Law 2008 Pro Bono Alumni Award. He was honoured for his dedication to pro bono work and his success in obtaining freedom for Richey, 43, who spent more than two decades on Death Row.

He was finally released from prison in December last year after a federal appeals court determined that there were flaws in the handling of his initial trial.

Richey, who grew up in Edinburgh before moving to the US as an 18-year-old, was sentenced to death in 1987 after being convicted of an arson attack on an apartment block in Ohio, in which two-year-old Cynthia Collins died.

He always maintained his innocence, but under a deal struck by Parsigian with prosecutors he pleaded no contest to attempted involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to the time he had already served.





The full article contains 174 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 12 May 2008 9:55 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Kenny Richey
 
1

John Knox furr First Meenister,

High St, Embra 12/05/2008 12:07:01
This is fantastic news. Well done, Ken. And well done Kenny, ken.
2

,

12/05/2008 12:26:42
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
3

Wee Keef,

12/05/2008 13:18:34
#2 Foo - I agree.

By the way, what is "attempted involuntary manslaughter"? Trying to kill somebody by accident????
4

Deegirl,

dundee 12/05/2008 13:29:17
ur well named number #1 the quicker K Richey disappears from the news the better, what a waste of space
5

Mr H 2u,

Embra 12/05/2008 13:30:53
Woo-hoo! "Lawyer gets prize for client admitting guilt" Whit a story.

Mebbe Sir Cliff Riohard should hire him re Eurovision travesty.
6

Beryltheperil ,

12/05/2008 13:41:59
the client did not admit guilt. He pled no contest.
7

Beryltheperil ,

12/05/2008 13:50:12
#3 Involuntary manslaughter is when you have no intention of killing someone.

So Attempted involuntary manslaughter is where you attempt not to intend on killing someone. Doesnt make a lot of sense but that was the charge.
8

Wee Keef,

12/05/2008 14:08:49
#7 Beryl - I try not to have any intention of killing everybody. Can I be charged with that under american law?
9

Beryltheperil ,

12/05/2008 14:28:34
Wee Keef I wouldnt at all be surprised if you could be charged with it under American law. stranger things have happened. LOL
10

George F,

Michigan 12/05/2008 17:32:25
#9 Beryltheperil, I think even though Richey entered a no contest plea he was still found guilty by the court of the charge and sentenced to time already served. If that's the case then he will have a crinimal record here in the USA. Also if it's the case he shouldn't bother trying to get back into the US as they will just send him straight back.
11

Beryltheperil ,

12/05/2008 20:58:39
George

Yes he was given time served I believe.

I agree with you, I think he has no hope of getting into US again.
12

I'll be your muse,

England 12/05/2008 23:37:52
I think it is about time Ken Parsigian got a mention.... What an amazing man! He deserves every bit of praise and good fortune that he gets :)
13

sam t.,

13/05/2008 02:24:44
He got the award because his client is notorious -- not because he did a better job than most appellate attorneys.
14

MacLaren,

13/05/2008 03:27:40
Well done, getting an award for getting a murderer off, well done indeeed...
15

I'll be your muse,

England 13/05/2008 08:43:02
Whatever the situation with Kenny was (I believe he was innocent) there are alot of innocent people on death row, and innocent people have been executed.... We need more dedicated people like Ken Parsigian to take on innocent cases.....
16

Duncan in Edinburgh,

13/05/2008 08:44:08
This story is factually incorrect. Kenny Richey was convicted of involuntary manslaughter (not "attempted"), child endangerment and breaking and entering.
17

Biker,

Ayr 13/05/2008 09:16:42
Richey also pled "No Contest" as he was advised to do. The case was so full of holes that it was prudent to let him go before proper investigations discovered the extent of the miss-carriage and fib telling.
18

Beryltheperil ,

13/05/2008 11:08:36
The story is factually CORRECT. The charge was indeed Attempted Involuntary Manslaughter.

The award was for his dedication to pro bono work and his success in obtaining freedom for Richey, 43, who spent more than two decades on Death Row.

so it was not all about Richey.
19

Biker,

Ayr 14/05/2008 17:51:09
Good point Beryl.
20

P Phillips,

UK 15/05/2008 16:20:43
It's always the same people making these ignorant comments about Mr.Richey. Had he been guilty then I'd agree 100% for the death penalty for the crime he committed. Y'see, it's far easier for them to snipe from the sidelines than research the facts and present a properly reasoned argument.
21

Pandamack,

15/05/2008 20:08:48
Pro Bono is the provision of legal advice without expectation of payment. Ken Parsigian's involvement in the Richey case cost his company $2,000,000 plus to secure the release of someone unable financialy to afford the "dollar justice" so prevelant in USA. When accused persons are unable to afford to compete with the resources available to the state, public spirited attorneys like Mr.Parsigian are all that some death row prisoners can hope for. Especially if they are poor or black .The American justice system, the very best that money can buy.
22

sam t.,

24/05/2008 19:04:06
If you can afford to lose 2 mil (allegedly) you aren't hurting for cash to begin with. Call me unimpressed. Also, in California, the state and private organizations pick up the costs for appeals. The same high price attys serve on the indigent panel. Since, California is the only state I am professionally familiar with, I will limit my comments. However, I've noticed more than a few times those who oppose the death penalty don't have a clue about our justice system, make sweeping and invariably wrong assertions.

On a lighter note, maybe Kenny and the kid he knocked up will name their baby after Parsigian.

 

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