prisoner release

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Florida Convict Freed in 'Killer Clown' Case

Sheila Keen Warren served 17 months after pleading guilty to 1990 slaying

(Newser) - The woman convicted of killing a woman while dressed as a clown and holding flowers and balloons has been released from a Florida prison. Sheila Keen-Warren, 61, who pleaded guilty in a plea deal in the 1990 "killer clown" case though she insists she's innocent, was freed Saturday...

Freed Dissidents Aren't Thrilled With All Terms of Their Release

Ilya Yashin, Andrei Pivovarov say they want to return home to Russia, probably can't

(Newser) - With last week's historic prisoner swap, Russian President Vladimir Putin did more than secure the release of his assassin friend . He also appears to have conveniently "rid himself of some of his most persistent critics," Politico reports, noting several Russian dissidents whisked from prisons inside Russia have...

Russia Frees Americans Gershkovich, Whelan in Swap

About 2 dozen prisoners on both sides are involved in the deal

(Newser) - Russia has freed Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan as part of a large prisoner swap with the West, reports the AP . Turkish officials confirmed the swap on Thursday after reports emerged at Bloomberg and the Daily Beast , among other outlets. Details were still emerging.
  • Two big names: Gershkovich, a
...

Russia Releases 10 Ukrainians Stuck Behind Bars for Years

After an intervention from Pope Francis

(Newser) - Ten Ukrainian civilians held prisoner for years by Russia arrived in Kyiv overnight Saturday after mediation via the Vatican, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said. They were freed Friday, per the AP . Some had been captured years before Russia's full-scale invasion. The pope has said the Holy See has been...

Russia Releases Another Detained American

Case of Taylor Dudley hadn't been widely known

(Newser) - Russia has released a US Navy veteran who'd been detained for nine months, reports the Washington Post . The name Taylor Dudley of Lansing, Michigan, may not ring a bell, however, because the 35-year-old's family had largely kept his case under the public radar, per CNN . Former New Mexico...

American in Bali 'Suitcase Murder' to Be Freed Years Early
US Woman in Bali
'Suitcase Murder'
Walks Free
UPDATED
Oct 29, 2021 12:34 AM CDT

US Woman in Bali 'Suitcase Murder' Walks Free

Heather Mack of Chicago was arrested for helping her boyfriend kill her mother

(Newser) - Update: The Chicago woman who, along with her then-boyfriend, murdered her mother on Bali in 2014 and stuffed her body in a suitcase walked free Friday after serving seven years of a 10-year sentence, the AP reports. Heather Mack, now 26, was escorted through a crush of reporters outside the...

After 4 Years, NASA Scientist Held in Turkey Returns Home

Serkan Golge was convicted of involvement in 2016 coup against Erdogan

(Newser) - Former NASA scientist Serkan Golge, detained on terrorism charges in Turkey, is back on American soil for the first time in four years. The Turkish-American arrived with his family in Washington early Tuesday, some seven months after President Trump said he'd secured a deal for his release, per the...

Afghan Government's Move May Wreck US-Taliban Deal

It's postponing the release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners

(Newser) - The Afghan government Saturday postponed the release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners, an Afghan official said, a decision that could sabotage a peace deal signed last month between the Taliban and the US. Jawed Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan National Security Adviser's office, said the releases were being delayed...

It's a 'Miracle': Utah Man Jailed in Venezuela Goes Free

Joshua Holt was arrested nearly 2 years ago

(Newser) - A Utah man jailed in Venezuela on weapons charges nearly two years ago was released Saturday after US officials and his family pressed for his freedom from the South American country, the AP reports. "We are grateful to all who participated in this miracle," Joshua Holt's family...

In Wee Hours, Trump Welcomes Home '3 Really Great People'

Three former prisoners arrived back in US from North Korea early Thursday

(Newser) - A proud moment for President Trump: Trump, accompanied by Melania Trump, Mike Pence, and Karen Pence, was on hand to welcome three former prisoners back from North Korea at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington early Thursday, the AP reports. Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song, and Kim Sang Duk were...

Sources: US Kept $400M Until Iran Freed Prisoners

They waited until plane was 'wheels up,' insider says

(Newser) - Administration officials insist that a $400 million cash payment to Iran on the same day Tehran released US prisoners was not a ransom—but sources tell the Wall Street Journal that it was certainly treated like one. Officials and other insiders say the US held onto the cash until a...

Israel to Release Longtime Prisoners Amid Palestine Talks

Some have been 'in jail for decades': minister

(Newser) - With Israel-Palestine talks potentially beginning next week , Israel will release some "heavyweight (Palestinian) prisoners in jail for decades," says top minister Yuval Steinitz. Details are fuzzy, but it's possible 350 prisoners could be released over several months, a Palestinian official tells the BBC ; some 100 of them...

America's Longest-Serving Female Inmate Freed

Betty Smithey spent 49 years in prison for murdering 15-month-old

(Newser) - With the help of a cane, Betty Smithey walked out of prison yesterday after 49 years behind bars, following the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency's declaration that she was no longer any threat to society. It was a day that for decades seemed unlikely to ever come. Smithey was...

Cuba to Free 2,900 Prisoners
 Cuba to Free 2,900 Prisoners 
Dec 24, 2011 6:59 AM CST

Cuba to Free 2,900 Prisoners

But American Alan Gross not among those to be released

(Newser) - With a nod to Pope Benedict's upcoming visit to the country, President Raul Castro yesterday announced that Cuba would pardon 2,900 prisoners, a group that includes some convicted of political crimes, many inmates over the age of 60, and a number of women. He referred to the act...

Suu Kyi Told She 'Could Go This Day'

Pro-democracy leader set for freedom in coming days

(Newser) - Rumors are swirling that Aung San Suu Kyi will be released today, according to the AP , but the Guardian reports that she will spend another night under house arrest. She was told she "could go this day," says the co-founder of her National League for Democracy party, but...

Slovakia Takes 3 Gitmo Detainees

Transfer based on EU-US agreement designed to help close prison

(Newser) - Three detainees from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay were moved to Slovakia over the weekend, bringing the total number of detainees at the Cuban base down to 193. Neither that nation nor the Justice Department, at Slovakia’s urging, would disclose the former prisoners’ names or nationalities, Reuters reports....

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