Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that the 1988 murder conviction of Maurice Hastings has been vacated and he has been released from prison. “What has happened to Mr. Hastings is a terrible injustice,” District Attorney Gascón said. “The justice system is not perfect, and when we learn of new evidence which causes us to lose confidence in a conviction, it is our obligation to act swiftly.” Hastings, 69, served more than 38 years in state prison for the 1983 murder of Roberta Wydermyer and two attempted murders. Roberta’s body was found in the trunk of her vehicle and the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to her head. The coroner conducted a sexual assault examination which involved swabbing of various body parts, including an oral swab on which semen was detected. Mr. Hastings was charged with a special circumstance murder and this office sought the ultimate punishment of death. After the first jury deadlocked, the second jury convicted him, and he was sentenced in 1988 to life in state prison without the possibility of parole. From the time of his arrest, Mr. Hastings has maintained his innocence. In 2000, Mr. Hastings requested DNA testing…
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District Attorney Gascón Announces Conviction of Maurice Hastings Vacated in 1983 Murder
