Black man wrongfully jailed for 39 years to receive $1m after being cleared of murder

A black man who was freed last year after spending 39 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit but was falsely convicted for will receive around $1m as compensation from the state of Ohio. He was one of three men sent to death row in 1975 after being convicted of aggravated murder in the slaying of a businessman outside a corner store in Cleveland.

Prosecutors at the time of the case relied on the testimony of a 13 year-old boy to convict Mr Jackson, now 58, and two brothers, Wiley Bridgeman and Ronnie Bridgeman, who were his best friends.

Years later, the boy, Eddie Vernon, who earlier claimed to witness the crime recanted his testimony and told authorities he had never actually witnessed the crime.

According to Sky News, when told of his compensation fee Ricky Jackson said 

"Wow, wow, wow, that's fantastic, man. I don't even know what to say. This is going to mean so much."

Wiley Bridgeman and Ronnie Bridgeman have not received any compensation yet.