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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Freed death row Scot arrives home | Freed death row Scot arrives home |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Kenny Richey, the Scot who spent 20 years on death row in the US, has arrived back home in Edinburgh and said "it feels great". | Kenny Richey, the Scot who spent 20 years on death row in the US, has arrived back home in Edinburgh and said "it feels great". |
| Richey, 43, was freed after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in Ohio over an arson attack in which a two-year-old girl died in 1986. | Richey, 43, was freed after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in Ohio over an arson attack in which a two-year-old girl died in 1986. |
| His flight touched down at Edinburgh Airport at 1736 GMT. | His flight touched down at Edinburgh Airport at 1736 GMT. |
| He said: "It's good to be back home." Richey left Edinburgh aged 18 to live with his American father in Ohio. | He said: "It's good to be back home." Richey left Edinburgh aged 18 to live with his American father in Ohio. |
| 'Smooth transition' | 'Smooth transition' |
| Richey's return was delayed by several hours when his flight from Chicago to Heathrow was cancelled because of bad weather. | Richey's return was delayed by several hours when his flight from Chicago to Heathrow was cancelled because of bad weather. |
| He managed to board a flight to Frankfurt in Germany, where he caught a connecting flight to Edinburgh. | He managed to board a flight to Frankfurt in Germany, where he caught a connecting flight to Edinburgh. |
| On arrival at Edinburgh Airport he said: "I would like to thank everybody who supported me all those years." | On arrival at Edinburgh Airport he said: "I would like to thank everybody who supported me all those years." |
| When asked if he had anything to say to those who convicted him, he said: "I don't think you want to hear that." | When asked if he had anything to say to those who convicted him, he said: "I don't think you want to hear that." |
| Wearing a grey jacket, jeans and white trainers, and accompanied by his brother Steven, he was confronted by a gathering of around 80 media representatives and onlookers and 16 police officers. | |
| For many of the people I have known in his position, adjusting to freedom turned out to be the hardest battle of all Clive Stafford SmithReprieve | For many of the people I have known in his position, adjusting to freedom turned out to be the hardest battle of all Clive Stafford SmithReprieve |
| He paused briefly for photographers and nodded towards a group of supporters holding banners from the human rights charity Amnesty International as he made his way to an awaiting car, followed by the media crowd. | |
| Asked what he thought of the US justice system, he replied simply: "It sucks." | |
| Richey held up a large Scottish Lion Rampant flag before going into the silver vehicle and being whisked away from the airport. | |
| PR guru Max Clifford, who is representing Richey, revealed the 43-year-old had sold his story to two newspapers. | |
| Richey 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 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. | But in August last year the sentence was overturned. |
| Richey held up a large Scottish Lion Rampant flag outside the airport | |
| 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. | 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 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. |
| Richey spent his first day of freedom in the US being reunited with family members, including his brother Steven. | Richey spent his first day of freedom in the US being reunited with family members, including his brother Steven. |
| His lawyer Ken Parsigian said that, despite fears Richey would be overwhelmed by the outside world after years in prison, he appeared to be adjusting well. | His lawyer Ken Parsigian said that, despite fears Richey would be overwhelmed by the outside world after years in prison, he appeared to be adjusting well. |
| UK-based charity Reprieve, whose legal director Clive Stafford Smith has been a member of Richey's legal team for 15 years, said he was thrilled about his return home. | UK-based charity Reprieve, whose legal director Clive Stafford Smith has been a member of Richey's legal team for 15 years, said he was thrilled about his return home. |
| Mr Stafford Smith said: "What matters most now is that Kenny finds the support he needs to rebuild his life. | Mr Stafford Smith said: "What matters most now is that Kenny finds the support he needs to rebuild his life. |
| "For many of the people I have known in his position, adjusting to freedom turned out to be the hardest battle of all." | "For many of the people I have known in his position, adjusting to freedom turned out to be the hardest battle of all." |