British businessman Kris Maharaj describes his 'millennium' inside Miami prison
An elderly British man who has spent the past 28 years in prison in Miami, began his appeal today, after new witness statements appear to cast doubt on his double murder conviction.
Krishna Maharaj, 75, was given a death sentence in 1987 for the murders of Derrick and Duane Moo Young.
A successful business man, Maharaj made his fortune importing bananas into the UK. A fan of Rolls-Royce cars and owner of many racehorses, he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle before running into financial difficulties in 1986.
He had some business relations with the murder victim, Derrick Moo Young, whom he said defrauded him of $400,000. Maharaj was suing Young over the affair when he was killed on October 16th 1986 in the Dupont Plaza hotel in Miami.
ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore reports.
Young and his son Duane were found dead in the hotel on the same day that Maharaj went to meet a business associate he said never turned up.
Maharaj has always said he was framed, and his is legal team are expected to present several witnesses to corroborate this claim. One of the documents expected to be read comes from a former policeman who says he feels he has the "moral duty" to speak up.
In an interview with ITV News, Maharaj said his 28 years in jail has felt more like "280 years. For every week seems like a year."
He said his wife Marita, whose support has not wavered in the past 28 years, is the reason he continued to live this "half life".
He said he never thinks about his former life of fortune, as it would be too painful, though he feels "ashamed" that he had never thought of what life in prison was life when he was a free man.
Reflecting on his conviction, he said he was so shocked he actually fainted as he "could not comprehend what had happened". Despite almost 30 years without his liberty, he said he does not blame the jurors, as they were "duped" by the trial.
He said he expects today's new hearing to exonerate him of the charges.
His lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith head of Reprieve, said it was clear his client was innocent, and he expected justice to be done.