Cynthia Sommer, accused of fatally poisoning her Miramar Marine husband with arsenic, spent two years and four months behind bars. Yesterday, the 34-year-old mother of four walked out of the Las Colinas jail a free woman, after prosecutors dropped the murder case against her.
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"As soon as we had the information that pointed to reasonable doubt, we brought this case this afternoon to get the matter dismissed," she said, adding that prosecutors acted quickly "so that Sommer didn't spend any additional time in custody."
Defense lawyer Allen Bloom was unconvinced.
"No one should say that this system worked," he said. "This dismissal wasn't because of the prosecution's efforts; it was done because the defense demanded it."
Todd Sommer, 23, died Feb. 18, 2002, after collapsing at the couple's home at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Doctors first determined he died of natural causes, but tests later revealed high levels of arsenic in his liver and kidneys.
Just goes to show that not just inaccurate testimony from eye witnesses, but also forensic evidence will lead to wrongful convictions.