News Release

Baltimore resident Michael Austin, whose murder conviction was overturned in 2002 after 27 years of false imprisonment, will recount his story along with his attorney, Larry Allen Nathans, at noon on Wednesday, April 28, in Shriver Hall Auditorium on The Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus, 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore.

The title of Austin and Nathans' discussion is "The Michael Austin Story: An Innocent Man's 27-Year Quest for Freedom." In 1975, Austin was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a grocery store security guard, despite evidence pointing to his innocence such as the physical description of the killer and the fact that Austin had barely left work when the crime was committed. The only witness against Austin — represented by the defense as a clean cut college kid on an academic scholarship — turned out to be a drug dealer and 9th grade dropout. After serving 27 years, Austin was pardoned by Gov. Robert Ehrlich.

This event is cosponsored by the Center for Social Concern at The Johns Hopkins University and is part of the Wednesday Noon Series presented by The Johns Hopkins University Office of Special Events, now in its 38th season of cultural programming on the Homewood campus. Admission is free. For further information, call the Office of Special Events at 443-287-9900.