» DNA test frees a man in Texas, implicates one in Georgia

» Attorneys to GA Supreme Court: Man couldn't have committed 2000 murder

It was DNA scientist Dr. Greg Hampikian who proved Robinson’s innocence over the years, after Zell asked for his help. Hampikian included Robinson’s case in a study on bias in interpretations of DNA mixtures nine years ago. As part of the study, he asked 17 DNA analysts to examine the evidence. Only one agreed with the GBI analyst.

In 2018, the GBI began using a more advanced process to examine DNA. Hampikian had the evidence examined in that process and it showed that the GBI analyst had been wrong, according to the Georgia Innocence Project.

“Modern DNA technology has further confirmed what we’ve known for a long time: Kerry Robinson is an innocent man,” said attorney Zell, who got to know Robinson and his family over the years. “We wish Kerry’s mother were here to see this day.”

Robinson’s son, sister and other relatives were there Wednesday afternoon to see him emerge from Coffee Correctional Facility outside the city of Douglas.

They screamed out to him in joy as the prison gate opened.