Judge overturns murder conviction 16 years after killing of Minneapolis high school student

A man convicted of murdering a Minneapolis teenager more than 16 years ago is now free after a Hennepin County judge overturned his conviction Wednesday.

According to the Great North Innocence Project (GNIP), Edgar Barrientos-Quintana’s 2009 murder conviction was overturned by Judge John McBride after he found that the defense’s account was flawed and prosecutors committed Brady violations.

Barrientos-Quintana was convicted in May 2009 of murdering 18-year-old Roosevelt High School graduate Jesse Mickelson.

Mr Barrientos-Quintana’s lawyer from the Great North Innocence Project, Anna McGinn, said of the exoneration: “We are delighted with today’s outcome and that justice for Edgar has finally prevailed.” The tragedy of Mr Mickelson’s murder was brought about by Edgars wrongful conviction and imprisonment. We all look forward to seeing the impact he will inevitably make beyond prison walls.”

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According to a GNIP press release, a two-year investigation by the Minnesota Conviction Review Unit (CRU) uncovered missteps by the state and Barrientos-Quintana’s defense team.

The CRU also found that Barrientos-Quintana had a credible alibi at the time of the murder and that the prosecution used “problematic eyewitness identification procedures.”

Judge McBride also ruled that Barrientos-Quintana’s defense team “was ineffective on numerous fronts, including failing to present exculpatory evidence and failing to challenge the testimony of investigators and eyewitnesses during the trial.”

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Mr. Barrientos-Quintana’s family said: “As a family, we express our gratitude to God for granting Edgar’s freedom. He has missed so many precious moments including watching his children grow up, attending graduations, birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations with family, and the loss of our beloved father. He has a lot to do. My mother will finally be able to welcome her son back to family dinners, and the place that has been empty for so long will once again be filled with his laughter and presence. Edgar’s journey was one of resilience, strength and unwavering faith. Despite the challenges and obstacles he faced, he never lost hope. His spirit is an inspiration to us all, a testament to the power of perseverance and the human capacity for endurance.”