Wrongly convicted man ordered released

NEW YORK

Last week, /*Eyewitness News*/ visited him in /*Sing Sing*/ prison where he was serving a 23 year sentence after being convicted in 2006 of two counts of first degree assault.

Eyewitness News' /*Sarah Wallace*/ reported those charges had been dismissed by a judge six months before David's trial, yet the /*Brooklyn*/ DA's office still presented them. Last night David was released after a decision by an appellate judge/

David still has a legal fight ahead as the DA plans to appeal.

The judge agreed that you just can't keep someone in prison on charges that don't legally exist.

"I feel like I'm getting a second chance, like I've won the lottery," said /*Oswind David*/.

Oswind David was hoping he'd get out of prison soon when we spoke with him in /*Sing Sing*/ prison last week, and Tuesday he got his winning ticket to freedom.

An Appellate Judge in /*Brooklyn*/ ordered David released on bail.

Eyewitness News uncovered documentation that first degree assault charges against David had actually been dismissed six months before his jury trial in 2006.

And yet, the Brooklyn DA's office still presented those charges to a jury, David was convicted and sentenced to a total of 23 years.

Lawyers for the Brooklyn DA's office tried today to keep David behind bars, arguing he is still technically guilty of the lesser charge of second degree assault, no matter the jury was specifically instructed not to consider that charge if they convicted on first degree assault.

David's brother, a Marine just back from two overseas tours, is helping post the $75,000 bond saying this is a legal fight the family is ready for.

"If they DA wants to fight, let's fight," said Osbert David, Oswind's brother.

"The bottom line is I am being unlawfully detained, that's the bottom line," Oswind David said.

If you have a tip about this or any other issue you'd like investigated, please give our tipline a call at 877-TIP-NEWS. You may also e-mail us at the.investigators@abc.com.

Follow Jim Hoffer on Twitter at twitter.com/nycinvestigates and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimhoffer.wabc

Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.