WICHITA — A man who spent 18 years on Florida’s death row for a murder he didn’t commit will speak at Wichita State University. Juan Melendez, a death penalty opponent, will talk about his life at 7 p.m. Feb. 1, in the CAC Theater at Wichita State. Admission is free. He will also talk at 2 p.m. Feb. 2, in the Rhatigan Student Center Fireplace Lounge. His presentations are sponsored by the Criminal Justice Student Association at Wichita State. Melendez, who spoke little English at the time, had served prison time for armed robbery when he was arrested for the murder of a beauty salon owner. Although he was never physically tied to the murder, Melendez was convicted on the testimony of an informant who was a criminal and whose parents had had a falling out with Melendez. Melendez’s conviction and death sentence were upheld on appeal three times by the Florida Supreme Court. Just as he was exhausting his appeals, Melendez received new attorneys who reviewed the case files and discovered a taped murder confession made by another man but ignored by police, and a statement by the cell mate of the man who confessed and said he was the gay lover of the murder victim. When an appeals judge ordered a new trial, the state of Florida declined to prosecute a second time. Melendez was freed in 2002. However, Florida paid Melendez $100 in compensation and never apologized.
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m.
