Marvin Haynes Exonerated in 2005 Murder Conviction and Released from Prison

December 11, 2023

In 2005, Marvin Haynes was convicted of the 2004 murder of a Minneapolis flower shop employee. Haynes, at the time a Black youth from north Minneapolis, was 16 years old when the murder occurred. He spent nearly 2 decades in prison and is now 36 years old.

Today, Hennepin County Judge William Koch vacated Haynes’ conviction and he was released from Stillwater Prison.

Haynes was convicted based almost entirely on witness identifications. No forensic evidence was used in the conviction.

“Almost twenty years ago, a terrible injustice occurred when the state prosecuted Marvin Haynes. We inflicted harm on Mr. Haynes and his family, and also on Harry Sherer, the victim, his family, and the community,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement.

"We cannot undo the trauma experienced by those impacted by this prosecution, but today we have taken a step toward righting this wrong."

In a statement, Haynes said of his release, “I want to thank the Great North Innocence Project, Julie Jonas, my family and friends, and everyone who supported me through this long journey.”