Philadelphia Man Who Spent Nearly 3 Decades In Prison For Murder Released After Plea Deal

Philadelphia PA

29 May, 2021

2:28 PM

Description

CBS Philadelphia May 29, 2021 A Philadelphia man who spent more than 29 years in prison for a murder he says he did not commit was released Friday after agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge. A Court of Common Pleas judge vacated Eric Riddick's 1992 first-degree murder conviction after his attorneys argued that evidence had not been shared with the defense during his initial trial. But, rather than face a new trial, Riddick, 51, chose to plead no contest to a third-degree murder charge and time served. Riddick's mother, Christine Riddick, left the courthouse Friday and breathed a deep sigh saying she had waited nearly 30 years for her son to be free. Waiting a few more minutes for him to finish the administrative paperwork to be released would be easy, she said. CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.