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Judge Dismisses Murder Charges Against Wrongly Convicted Man

COMPTON (AP) — Prosecutors have decided not to retry a wrongly convicted man who was freed three weeks ago after spending more than 20 years in prison.

A Los Angeles judge on Monday dismissed murder charges against 37-year-old Francisco "Franky" Carrillo, who was convicted of the Jan, 18, 1991, killing of 41-year-old Donald Sarpy in a drive-by shooting on a Lynwood street.

He was freed March 16, days after most of the witnesses at his trial recanted testimony. The judge did not rule on Carrillo's innocence or guilt but said the changed evidence cast doubt on the verdict.

The Los Angeles Times says the district attorney's office on Monday asked the judge to dismiss the charges.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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