Kris Maharaj, an 85-year-old Indian from Britain, has passed away in a US prison hospital after spending 38 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit.
Convicted in 1986 for the murders of Derrick and Duane Moo Young, his death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment in 2002.
Although he was declared innocent in 2019, he remained in prison due to a court decision that deemed the evidence insufficient for his release.
Maharaj, originally from Trinidad and residing in England, was arrested in Florida while visiting to buy a retirement home. Once a wealthy businessman with racehorses and Rolls-Royces, his life was upended by his wrongful conviction.
Despite his claims of innocence and support from his wife, Marita, he spent 17 years on death row before his sentence was commuted.
Marita Maharaj is heartbroken over her husband’s death and is determined to bring his body back to the UK for burial. She also plans to continue fighting to clear his name, fulfilling a promise she made to him in 1976.
The case attracted significant support from British politicians and human rights advocates, which led to the overturning of Maharaj’s death sentence. However, despite proving his innocence, he remained in prison until his death.
