He was released after 29 years in prison for a crime he did not commit

An American was released Monday in New Orleans after spending the past 29 years behind bars for a crime he ultimately did not commit.

A man named Patrick Brown was convicted in 1994 of raping his stepdaughter, who was 6 years old.

During the trial, the victim did not speak to recount her experience, and the jury relied largely on what the adults thought the girl had said, the Orleans County District Attorney’s office said in a news release.

Since 2002, his daughter-in-law has campaigned for Brown’s release and a reopening of the investigation to find the “real culprit”.

His efforts have finally paid off.

“The Attorney General’s Office conducted a thorough investigation and the evidence has remained consistent over the past 20 years,” the statement said.

“So we asked the court to immediately rectify this injustice,” she added.

In an interview with CNN, Mr. Brown’s attorney, Kelly Orians, noted that although she welcomed the court’s decision, many questions remain unanswered.

“There is reason to celebrate [mais] It will never make up for the loss, hurt and trauma that Mr Brown, his daughter-in-law and his family have endured over the past three decades, she said.