Briton freed after plea ends 21 years on death row

A BRITON who spent 21 years on death row in America was freed by a US court last night.

Kenny Richey pleaded no contest to attempted involuntary manslaughter at the Putnam County Common Pleas Court in Ottawa, Ohio, and is set to head back to Britain today, his lawyer said.

Richey, 43, from Edinburgh, was convicted in 1987 of an arson attack on an apartment block in an Ohio town in which a two-year-old girl, Cynthia Collins, died.

But in August last year the sentence was overturned and yesterday he pleaded no contest to charges of attempted involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and breaking and entering. He was sentenced to time already served.

Richey, wearing a black shirt and trousers with a blue tie, appeared in court with his arms and ankles shackled for the hearing.

He spoke several times, but only to confirm to Judge Alan Travis he understood the proceedings and the terms of his plea deal.

The judge said Richey would be released as soon as he could be processed from Putnam County jail.

He told Richey that although his plea was not an admission of guilt, it would lead to him being found guilty by the court.

The Scot, who has always protested his innocence, refused a plea bargain which would have led to an 11-year sentence for arson and manslaughter.