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2 Brothers Free After 25 Years In Prison As New Witnesses Come Forward In Murder Case

DETROIT (AP) - Two brothers that were locked up for 25 years after murder convictions in Detroit have been granted bond and released on bond, while their case is being appealed.

Thomas and Raymond Highers, who were accused of fatally shooting a man in a drug house, were each granted $10,000 bond but required to post only 10% to be released. Prosecutors argued against the low bond, but Wayne County Circuit Judge Lawrence Talon said he didn't believe the brothers were a threat to the community.

The men will have to wear GPS tethers and live with their aunt in Roseville. Thomas Highers is now 46, and Raymond Highers is 45.

"Are they the same people they were 25 years ago or not? The court doesn't believe that they are," Talon said. "I already ruled the probability of a different result is likely on retrial."

Talon last month threw out the brothers' first-degree murder convictions based on new testimony from witnesses who didn't come forward after the 1987 fatal shooting of a 65-year-old man at a Detroit drug house. Prosecutors are appealing that decision, saying they have doubts about the new witnesses.

The witnesses, former Grosse Pointe schools friends, claimed they went to the house to buy marijuana. One of them, John Hielscher, has said in an affidavit that he saw the attackers at the drug house and they were black. The Highers brothers are white.

Janet Hirth, the aunt with whom the brothers will be living, cried outside the court.

"We're elated," Hirth said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "We're just so happy they're coming home. ... We all need to get reacquainted."

Hirth said the brothers will come home to "spaghetti and meatballs, two beautiful beds ... and family."

 

 

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