WILLIAM TINNING and BRIAN DONNELLY
The aunt of Cynthia Collins was unforgiving yesterday as a court agreed to the release of death row Scot Kenny Richey.
Valerie Binklay broke down in tears amid an emotional outburst as she attempted to read a six-page victim-impact statement at Richey's long-awaited appeal hearing.
As Richey prepared to taste freedom after spending more than 20 years on death row for a murder he always denied, Ms Binklay attempted to tell the court of the devastation her two-year-old niece's death had had on her family.
Addressing Putnam County Common Pleas Court in Ottawa, Ohio, Ms Binklay said: "How do you go about putting into words what a two-year-old means?"
Turning and pointing to Richey, less than 10ft away, Ms Binklay said: "I have six pages here. I know I can't make it through it. But I want you to know you've fooled nobody no more. Nobody. You will burn in hell."
A statement read to the court in the name of Robert Collins, the dead child's father, said he would never achieve "closure" over her death and described it as an "ongoing nightmare". He said his baby "did not deserve to die" and that he could not get rid of the images of smoke filling her lungs.
Richey appeared in court with his arms and ankles shackled for the 40-minute hearing. He spoke in his broad Scottish accent several times, but only to confirm to Judge Alan Travis that he understood the proceedings and the terms of his plea deal.
During the hearing, Richey, who left his mother's home in Edinburgh aged 18 to live with his American father in Ohio, was sentenced to a total of 21 years - time he has already served.
The judge said that, following his release, he would be the subject of a Civil Protection Order which prevents him from contacting certain people, who were not named, and also that he would not be allowed to return to Putnam County for five years.
Readjusting to normal life will not be easy for the 43-year-old who has spent more than 21 years on death row.
He will get no compensation after his plea bargain deal and will face major stresses and challenges as he tries to adapt to a world which has changed dramatically in the past two decades.
Consultant forensic psychol-ogist Ian Stephen said one of the first things to hit Richey will be the shock of a barrage of stimuli after long years in captivity.
Once the initial elation dies down, other problems are likely to emerge, such as depression and stress.
Richey will also face the challenge of adjusting to a world which has gone through a technological revolution in the past two decades.
Mr Stephen, a committee member of the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation in Scotland, said: "It will be a strange world for him as he was staying in America and Scotland is a different place now than it was 20 years ago."
Publicist Max Clifford, who was involved in the campaign for Richey's release for the past two years, last night confirmed that he had arranged a series of newspaper and television deals for the Scot.
Mr Clifford said: "He has had the most horrendous time and will not receive a penny in compensation for his 21 years in prison.
"I am not taking a penny. Kenny is going to need all the money he can get his hands on. We are not talking about hundreds of thousands of pounds but enough to tide him over the next year."
A lifetime behind bars
- August 3, 1964: Kenny Richey is born in Holland to an American father and Scottish mother, before spending much of his childhood in Edinburgh.
- December 24, 1982: After his parents' divorce, he leaves Edinburgh for Ohio with father.
- 1984: Richey moves to Minnesota, meets future wife Wendy and joins US Marines.
- 1985: Richey discharged from the Marines. After his marriage fails he returns to Columbus Grove to live with his father.
- June 29, 1986: Richey is at a party celebrating a planned return to Scotland to start work as a doorman. Early the next morning a fire broke out in a nearby apartment block.
- June 30, 1986: Two-year-old Cynthia Collins, dies of smoke inhalation.
- January 1987: Richey goes to trial accused of starting the blaze out of jealousy in an attempt to kill an ex-girlfriend. He is convicted of murder and sentenced to death.Appeal is lodged immediately.
- June 30, 1987: Richey's scheduled appointment with the electric chair coincides with the first anniversary of the toddler's death. A stay is granted.
- 1992: A direct appeal is lodged with Ohio Supreme Court and denied.
- June 1998: Richey's last scheduled execution date is avoided. Case is transferred to federal courts. Richey becomes engaged to Karen Torley.
- 2003: Richey takes oath of allegiance to Queen to gain UK citizenship from prison cell in Ohio, allowing UK government to campaign to spare his life.
- January 2005: A three-judge panel at the Appeal Court of Ohio rules that Richey must be retried within 90 days or set free by the state of Ohio.
- March 2006: Richey's engagement with Karen Torley ends.
- July 12, 2007: Supporters campaigning to save Richey start a fresh petition to pressure new Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take action.
- August 10, 2007: His conviction overturned on appeal for the second time.
- August 26, 2007: US prosecutors will not challenge decision. Retrial is ordered.
- December 19, 2007: Richey agrees to a plea deal.
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