Texas man released after 18 years without trial

A man from Houston has been released from jail after spending 18 years without a trial. Edric Wilson, 47, was held at Harris County Jail on murder charges related to the death of Pastor Joel Osteen's great-aunt in 2006. Wilson also faced aggravated assault charges in a different case from the same year. Over the years, Wilson's cases were handled by six different district attorney administrations, three judges, and six defense lawyers. The cases lost momentum over time. Last year, Harris County prosecutors reviewed the murder case and discovered that a key DNA evidence linking Wilson to the crime was weaker than previously believed. As a result, they dismissed the murder charges against him. Wilson pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charge and was released on parole last month. Sean Teare, the Harris County District Attorney, commented on the situation, saying there were failures at every level of the justice system. He called it a tragic case, highlighting that people can easily fall through the cracks. Wilson's story is not unique. He is one of 230 individuals identified by county staff who have spent more than 1,000 days in jail without a trial.