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| Freed Richey reunited with family | Freed Richey reunited with family |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Kenny Richey, the Scot who spent 20 years on death row in the US, has spent his first day of freedom being reunited with family members. | |
| Richey, originally from Edinburgh, was freed after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors over an arson attack in which a two-year-old girl died in 1986. | Richey, originally from Edinburgh, was freed after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors over an arson attack in which a two-year-old girl died in 1986. |
| His lawyer said Richey, 43, had a steak lunch with family members before spending the evening with his brother. | His lawyer said Richey, 43, had a steak lunch with family members before spending the evening with his brother. |
| However, his flight to Edinburgh was later cancelled due to poor weather. | |
| No contest | No contest |
| His lawyer Ken Parsigian said Richey had a "really loving, warm, lovely, private time" at lunch. | His lawyer Ken Parsigian said Richey had a "really loving, warm, lovely, private time" at lunch. |
| He said: "He got a New York strip, and he was happy." | He said: "He got a New York strip, and he was happy." |
| "He then spent the evening with his family and reconnected with many people." | "He then spent the evening with his family and reconnected with many people." |
| Richey, who left his mother's home in Edinburgh at the age of 18 to live with his American father in Ohio, was convicted in 1987 of the arson attack on an apartment block in an Ohio town in which two-year-old Cynthia Collins died. | Richey, who left his mother's home in Edinburgh at the age of 18 to live with his American father in Ohio, was convicted in 1987 of the arson attack on an apartment block in an Ohio town in which two-year-old Cynthia Collins died. |
| But in August last year the sentence was overturned. On Monday, he pleaded no contest to charges of attempted involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and breaking and entering at the Putnam County Common Pleas Court in Ottawa, Ohio. | But in August last year the sentence was overturned. On Monday, he pleaded no contest to charges of attempted involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and breaking and entering at the Putnam County Common Pleas Court in Ottawa, Ohio. |
| He got into civilian clothes for the first time, and he seemed to transform into a civilian. It was quite a smooth transition, I was surprised Ken ParsigianRichey's lawyer Timeline: Richey's release | He got into civilian clothes for the first time, and he seemed to transform into a civilian. It was quite a smooth transition, I was surprised Ken ParsigianRichey's lawyer Timeline: Richey's release |
| He was sentenced to a total of 21 years - time which he has already served, most of it on death row. | He was sentenced to a total of 21 years - time which he has already served, most of it on death row. |
| His first night of freedom was spent with his brother Steven. | His first night of freedom was spent with his brother Steven. |
| Richey was expected to returning to the UK on Wednesday via Chicago airport. | |
| He was due to fly into London and then Edinburgh at about 1400 GMT. | |
| It is remains unclear when he will be able to depart. | |
| PR guru Max Clifford, who is representing Richey, revealed the 43-year-old has sold his story to two newspapers which will whisk him away when he eventually does arrive in Edinburgh. | |
| Richey's lawyer said that, despite fears Richey would be overwhelmed by the outside world after years in prison, he appeared to be adjusting well. | Richey's lawyer said that, despite fears Richey would be overwhelmed by the outside world after years in prison, he appeared to be adjusting well. |
| 'Warm and loving' | 'Warm and loving' |
| Ken Parsigian said: "There was much more anxiety before the actual day than on the actual day." | Ken Parsigian said: "There was much more anxiety before the actual day than on the actual day." |
| He said: "He got into civilian clothes for the first time, and he seemed to transform into a civilian. It was quite a smooth transition, I was surprised." | He said: "He got into civilian clothes for the first time, and he seemed to transform into a civilian. It was quite a smooth transition, I was surprised." |
| "It was almost like the clothes made the difference." | "It was almost like the clothes made the difference." |
| Many people can seem "cold and distant" after so many years locked away, but for Richey the opposite seemed true, the lawyer said. | Many people can seem "cold and distant" after so many years locked away, but for Richey the opposite seemed true, the lawyer said. |
| "He was warm and loving and comfortable with it right away," he said. | "He was warm and loving and comfortable with it right away," he said. |
| After his release, Richey thanked all those who "never doubted my innocence" and said he was looking forward to "going home to Scotland". | After his release, Richey thanked all those who "never doubted my innocence" and said he was looking forward to "going home to Scotland". |
| But he added: "It's been a long time coming." | But he added: "It's been a long time coming." |