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| 'I've rotted in hell' says Richey | 'I've rotted in hell' says Richey |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Kenny Richey, who spent more than 20 years on death row, has insisted he did not deliberately start a fire in which a two-year-old girl died. | Kenny Richey, who spent more than 20 years on death row, has insisted he did not deliberately start a fire in which a two-year-old girl died. |
| Richey, who was freed from prison in the US last week following a plea deal, is now back in Edinburgh. | Richey, who was freed from prison in the US last week following a plea deal, is now back in Edinburgh. |
| In interviews he said he was devastated that Cynthia Collins died in the Ohio fire but insisted it was not his fault. | In interviews he said he was devastated that Cynthia Collins died in the Ohio fire but insisted it was not his fault. |
| He told The People and Sky News that nothing could bring back the child, however, he had rotted in his own hell. | He told The People and Sky News that nothing could bring back the child, however, he had rotted in his own hell. |
| The 43-year-old's conviction for the arson attack was overturned last year. | The 43-year-old's conviction for the arson attack was overturned last year. |
| 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, on Monday, he pleaded no contest to charges of attempted involuntary manslaughter, child endangering, and breaking and entering. |
| I did not kill that little girl. I'm devastated she died but it wasn't my fault Kenny Richey | I did not kill that little girl. I'm devastated she died but it wasn't my fault Kenny Richey |
| In an interview with the People newspaper, Richey insisted: "I did not kill that little girl. | In an interview with the People newspaper, Richey insisted: "I did not kill that little girl. |
| "I'm devastated she died but it wasn't my fault." | "I'm devastated she died but it wasn't my fault." |
| Richey showed little sympathy for Cynthia's family. | Richey showed little sympathy for Cynthia's family. |
| In a TV interview with Sky News, he was asked his reaction to comments made by the toddler's aunt, Valerie Binkley, who told him he would "burn in hell". | In a TV interview with Sky News, he was asked his reaction to comments made by the toddler's aunt, Valerie Binkley, who told him he would "burn in hell". |
| He said: "She'll be burning there first long before I will. | He said: "She'll be burning there first long before I will. |
| "I've got nothing to burn in hell for and as far as there being a hell, there is no hell anyway, this is hell. | |
| "I've had my years in hell, 21 of them. It can't get any worse." | "I've had my years in hell, 21 of them. It can't get any worse." |
| 'Time warp' | 'Time warp' |
| Richey is already said to be finding things vastly different since he was locked up - including the price of a pint rising from about 60p in the mid-1980s to £3.50 today. | Richey is already said to be finding things vastly different since he was locked up - including the price of a pint rising from about 60p in the mid-1980s to £3.50 today. |
| He said he felt like he was "stuck in a time warp" - citing his pin-ups as the Nolan Sisters and Sam Fox. | He said he felt like he was "stuck in a time warp" - citing his pin-ups as the Nolan Sisters and Sam Fox. |
| During his time on death row he said he would often spend up to 23 hours in his 6ft by 10ft cell. | During his time on death row he said he would often spend up to 23 hours in his 6ft by 10ft cell. |
| Lack of exercise and a poor diet caused him to put on weight and he claimed "caused havoc" with his health - leading to heart problems. | Lack of exercise and a poor diet caused him to put on weight and he claimed "caused havoc" with his health - leading to heart problems. |
| But he admitted to the paper to making his own "hooch" in jail. | But he admitted to the paper to making his own "hooch" in jail. |
| He also said at times he had felt like cutting his own wrists or throat. | He also said at times he had felt like cutting his own wrists or throat. |
| Richey said he could never have harmed Cynthia Collins | Richey said he could never have harmed Cynthia Collins |
| Richey said he wanted to remarry ex-wife Wendy Amerud, 50 - who divorced him before the fire - and start a new life in Scotland with son Shaun, 22. | |
| He now hopes to be able to live a quiet life. | He now hopes to be able to live a quiet life. |
| "I will never be able to forget my past but all I want is to enjoy the simple things. | "I will never be able to forget my past but all I want is to enjoy the simple things. |
| "Just feeling the Scottish rain on my face this week has been a joy," he said. | "Just feeling the Scottish rain on my face this week has been a joy," he said. |
| In a separate interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Richey said he could "never intentionally harm a child". | In a separate interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Richey said he could "never intentionally harm a child". |
| He said he knew and "adored" Cynthia Collins and would have done anything to save her. | He said he knew and "adored" Cynthia Collins and would have done anything to save her. |
| Richey said: "It has been a very bitter experience finding myself in a situation where I was going to lose my life because I had been held responsible for the loss of hers - a child I played with as I had other kids in her street and looked after her." | Richey said: "It has been a very bitter experience finding myself in a situation where I was going to lose my life because I had been held responsible for the loss of hers - a child I played with as I had other kids in her street and looked after her." |
| In 1994 Richey was one hour away from the electric chair but was granted a stay of execution. | In 1994 Richey was one hour away from the electric chair but was granted a stay of execution. |
| He told how he had ordered the Scottish dish of haggis and neeps as a last meal but was given steak instead. | He told how he had ordered the Scottish dish of haggis and neeps as a last meal but was given steak instead. |
| Rescue claim | Rescue claim |
| Richey, a former US marine, revealed that prison officials had given him a choice on how he wanted to die - the electric chair or lethal injection. | Richey, a former US marine, revealed that prison officials had given him a choice on how he wanted to die - the electric chair or lethal injection. |
| "I said if they were going to kill me that was a decision they would have to make on their own," he said. | "I said if they were going to kill me that was a decision they would have to make on their own," he said. |
| On the day of the fire, Richey admitted he was on a "high" after taking prescription drugs and collapsed into a nearby bush. | On the day of the fire, Richey admitted he was on a "high" after taking prescription drugs and collapsed into a nearby bush. |
| He claimed he attempted to save the child when he awoke to discover a fire in her flat. | He claimed he attempted to save the child when he awoke to discover a fire in her flat. |
| "I tried to climb up on the balcony but was stopped by a neighbour," he said. | "I tried to climb up on the balcony but was stopped by a neighbour," he said. |
| "All I could think of was Cynthia and trying to save her at that point." | "All I could think of was Cynthia and trying to save her at that point." |