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  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A 41-year-old St. Louis man was freed Thursday after a decade in jail when a judge found he was not guilty of the carjacking in which he had been convicted.

(KMOV)

Antonio Beaver

  Judge Michael David told Antonio Beaver he is innocent of the crime, based on DNA analysis not available when the robbery was committed.

  Beaver appeared relieved and told the judge his faith in God helped him endure during his time in prison.

  The Innocence Project, a New York-based legal center that seeks to uncover wrongful convictions, and St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce had filed a joint request seeking Beaver's release.

  The Innocence Project said new DNA tests prove Beaver did not commit a violent carjacking near the Gateway Arch in August of 1996.

  Beaver was convicted of robbery in 1997 and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

  During the carjacking, someone threatened a woman with a screwdriver and stole her car following a struggle. The victim identified Beaver in a lineup, but now lawyers representing him call that lineup flawed. They say the new DNA analysis proves it wasn't Beaver's blood found in the car.

To donate to a fund set up in Beaver's name, send donations to:

Richard Sindel

8008 Carondolet Ave.

Suite 301

Clayton, MO 63105

(314) 721-6040

  (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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Prosecutor, lawyers ask for man's prison release

  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Innocence Project and St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce are filing a joint motion this morning, asking that a 41-year-old man be freed immediately, after a decade in prison.

  The Innocence Project says DNA tests prove that Antonio Beaver did not commit a violent carjacking near the Gateway Arch.

  Someone threatened a woman with a screwdriver and stole her car following a struggle in August of 1996. The victim identified Beaver in a line-up, but now lawyers representing him say that line-up was flawed. They say new DNA evidence proves it wasn't his blood found in the car.

  The St. Louis man was convicted of robbery in 1997 and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

  The Innocence Project is a a nonprofit organization that pushes for DNA exoneration.

  (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)