Story perspectives

Judge Overturns 25-Year Murder Conviction in Detroit Case

3/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

A Detroit-area judge overturned the 1999 murder conviction of George Calicut Jr., who served over 25 years.
Valerie Newman, conviction integrity unit head, said prosecutors admitted the confession was coerced.
DNA testing found no evidence linking Calicut to Virgie Perkins.
Calicut's attorneys said the confession was fabricated by a retired detective.
He is expected to be released soon with support from Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School.

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Story summary

A Detroit-area judge overturned the 1999 murder conviction of George Calicut Jr., who served over 25 years.
Valerie Newman, conviction integrity unit head, said prosecutors admitted the confession was coerced.
DNA testing found no evidence linking Calicut to Virgie Perkins.
Calicut's attorneys said the confession was fabricated by a retired detective.
He is expected to be released soon with support from Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School.