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Senate to study repaying people wrongly convicted

By wire services
Published February 10, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Prompted by the case of a man who spent 22 years in prison for a rape DNA tests finally proved he didn't commit, the state Senate will study how to compensate people wrongly convicted and imprisoned.

Wilton Dedge, 43, of Cocoa, wants lawmakers to give him $5-million for the nearly 8,000 days he spent in custody, lost wages, money his family spent to defend and visit him and work done by the lawyers who fought for him. Senate President Tom Lee said Wednesday the existing process for deciding how to compensate for wrongs caused by the state doesn't work in cases like Dedge's.

There could be more DNA exonerations and laws must "deal with everyone equally and similarly," Lee said.

Traditionally, claims bills in the Legislature are based on awards victims win in lawsuits. Dedge's attorneys have not filed a lawsuit.

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers holding the first congressional review of the 2004 vote were upset by the absence Wednesday of top election officials from Florida and Ohio, states with many balloting complaints.

The chairman of the House Administration Committee said he would hold hearings away from Washington and continue to seek testimony from Florida's secretary of state, Glenda Hood, and Ohio's Kenneth Blackwell.

"I am disappointed that they are not here," said Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. "We can have disagreements, but you can't run and you can't hide."

Hood had a previously scheduled speech to the British-American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, which the committee was told about, spokeswoman Jenny Nash said. Hood "welcomes any opportunity to discuss Florida's success during the 2004 election," Nash said.

NAPLES - A blow to the head with a beer bottle may have saved Sally Hampton's life.

While doctors were examining her after the barroom attack July 4, they found a brain tumor that could have killed her.

The tumor was removed, and Hampton, 64, is fully recovered.

On Monday, she testified against her attacker, Fidel Trujillo, who was convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 121/2 years in prison.

[Last modified February 10, 2005, 00:25:06]