A man who was exonerated after spending 37 years in prison for a rape and a murder he did not commit likely won't get compensation for his wrongful conviction.
Robert Duboise, 55, was jailed in 1985 and despite claiming his innocence for the next 37 years, he was not released until August 2020.
He subsequently sued the city of Tampa, in Florida, as well as four police officers and a forensic dentist who testified that his teeth matched bite marks on the victim.
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The dentist, named as Dr Richard Souviron, also testified in the trial of the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy.
But Duboise likely will not receive compensation due to a legal loophole, dubbed the 'clean hands' provision.
In Florida, a person who has been wrongly convicted cannot be compensated if they have spent time in prison for prior offences.
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This was the case with Duboise, who had spent some time in prison for previous convictions for non-violent felonies.
Under Florida's current laws, people who have been wrongfully convicted are entitled to compensation to the tune of $50,000 (£37,000) per year spent behind bars.
This would mean that Duboise, if he did not have a prior conviction, would be entitled to $1.85 million (£1.37m) in compensation.
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State Senator Jeff Brandes has filed legislation to waive the clean hands provision for Duboise, WJHG reports.
He said: "We've taken a portion of their lives as a state then they should be compensated for that wrongful conviction."
Asked how he stays positive, Duboise simply said: "You have to."
In 2020, lawmakers waived the clean record requirement for Clifford Williams, who had been wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years for a murder he did not commit.
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Speaking about what he would do if the clean hands provision was also waived in his case, Duboise said: "I would get me a house, which I've never had, and just concentrate on the future. Invest, and just keep pushing forward."
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