Raymond (left) and Thomas Highers in court.
That's the end for brothers,Thomas and Raymond Highers.
Eric D. Lawrence and John Wisely of the Detroit Free Press report that Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Wednesday announced she was dismissing homicide charges against the two brothers. They had spent about 25 years in prison for the 1987 killing of an Detroit east-side pot dealer.
Update, 11:30 a.m. Thursday: A Wayne County Circuit Court judge made it final Thursday morning, officially closing the case, Serena Maria Daniels reports in The Detroit News.
“This has been a long journey for everybody involved in the case,” Judge Lawrence Talon said. . . .
Once outside of the courtroom, the brothers shook the hands of perfect strangers who congratulated them for their victory in court. On the sidewalk in front of the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, there was an air of celebration, with family members cheering and applauding.
“I’m just elated,” Thomas Highers said Wednesday afternoon, according to the Free Press. “It means a fresh start for me. It means freedom for me to do the things I want to do, to visit family in other states. I have no felony conviction on my record.”
Last year, Talon vacated the original conviction and set a new trial date. The men were then released pending a trial that had been due to start Oct. 8.
