Three men imprisoned since the 1990s for a fatal New Orleans drive-by shooting were ordered freed Wednesday, with prosecutors citing the role of two notoriously corrupt police officers — including one awaiting a federal death sentence — among the reasons the convictions had to be thrown out.
Kunta Gable and Leroy Nelson were 17 when they were arrested soon after the 22 August 1994 death of Rondell Santinac at the Desire housing development. Bernell Juluke, arrested with them, was 18. The men were ordered freed Wednesday by a state judge who vacated their convictions on a joint motion by defense lawyers and District Attorney Jason Williams' Civil Rights Division.
