The
man who claims he was wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of a
12-year-old girl is now free on bond while he awaits a new trial.
Andrew Krivak and his friend Anthony
DiPippo were convicted in separate trials in 1996 for the rape and choking death of 12-year-old Josette
Wright. Wright's body was found in Patterson.
Four
years ago, DiPippo was acquitted following new evidence in the case. He settled
a wrongful-conviction lawsuit with Putnam for $12 million.
Based
on a confession that Krivak says he was coerced into giving, he says he never
got a retrial.
"Until the day that they acknowledge
that and admit that they were wrong, I
will continue my fight to vindicate myself and clear my name,” says
Krivak.
Last May, a judge overturned Krivak's
conviction and an appellate court upheld
the dismissal.
Krivak
was released today from Putnam County Correctional Center on bond while he
awaits a possible new trial.
"I'm
kind of speechless at the moment," says Krivak. "I've been wrongfully
convicted; this is the first step towards proving my innocence and clearing my
name. I thank everybody who's fought this battle with me, stood behind me, and
is continuing to support me."
The
DA's office is seeking permission to appeal the latest ruling. If denied, the
DA can either retry the case or drop the charges.
Putnam
Valley District Attorney Larry Glasser says he feels confident about retrying
the case, saying in part, “We are confident in our pending application to
appeal and we are very confident in our case at trial if we do have to bring
him to trial again."
The
victim’s mom, Susan Wright, is still convinced that Krivak and DiPippo raped
and killed her daughter.
"He
doesn't deserve to be out, doesn't deserve the comforts of home, doesn't
deserve his favorite meal,” says Wright.