Spared execution eight times, oldest inmate in US dies at 101

Smith was a young petty criminal when he was accused in 1949 of the murder of Grover Hart, a night watchman at a Connecticut yacht club. He was one of two men who were arrested over the killing but the other took a plea deal and gave evidence against Smith, who was later found guilty of first-degree murder.His guilt and the evidence on which he was convicted have been questioned over the years - namely after witnesses recanted their statements and another inmate later confessed to the murder.One of the officers who had interrogated Smith after his arrest later testified that he believed Smith was innocent."I'm not even sure he was present at the murder," Major Leo Carroll announced to the Board of Pardons, according to the Boston Globe.Smith served more than 70 years behind bars - other than three short stints of freedom.He escaped from prison in 1967 but was recaptured 12 days later. In 1974, we went home for Christmas Eve and returned the next day, Banevicius said. Then, in 1975, he was granted parole and was out for about 10 months - but he was soon arrested for petty larceny and possession of a weapon, which was a violation of his parole, according to the Boston Globe.Richard S...