Seventy-two-year old Greek George Souliotis was released on July 3 after sixteen years in American prison for murder and arson, with tears in his eyes. He hugged his family and told the reporters that he just wanted to see the sun.
According to a report cited in “Los Angeles Times”, Souliotis was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole after being found guilty of arson in a house that he leased in 1997 and resulted in the death of 32 year-old Michelle Jones, and her children, 8-year-old Daniel and 3-year- old Amanda. In fact, the prosecution had asked for the death penalty.
However, in a U.S. federal court the decision was overturned after the eyewitness who had testified for the prosecution was unreliable.
But in order to be released, Souliotis said he does not contest the charges of homicide by negligence, because he did not see to it that smoke detectors were installed at the house in Modesto he leased to the victims. The maximum penalty for these charges is six years imprisonment.
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