NEW YORK (AP) — In a dramatic shift in a high-profile case, the Westchester County District Attorney's office announced on Monday the identification of two new suspects in the 1996 double killing of millionaire Archie Harris, 79, and home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35. For 16 years, the office maintained that Selwyn Days was guilty, retrying him five times, resulting in hung juries and reversed convictions before his eventual acquittal in 2017.

Current DA Mimi Rocah revealed that the reinvestigation found "no connection" to Days, a statement that marks the first official acknowledgment of innocence for him. Rocah did not provide specific details about the newly identified suspects, noting that the investigation remains ongoing.

Days' attorney, Glenn Garber, expressed hopes for vindication, stating, "He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest." Garber further emphasized the need for a fair closure to what he called "this heinous case." Rocah, who took office in 2021, indicated that her tenure was running out as she decided not to seek a second term, adding a sense of urgency to the ongoing investigation.

Incoming DA Susan Cacace committed to continuing the review of the double homicide case, ensuring that future efforts will seek to bring justice to both the victims' families and the wrongly accused. Cacace's transition into office retains the aim of pursuing accountability for the true perpetrators of the crime.

The disturbing details of the case include Harris being well-known in his community for flaunting personal wealth, leaving behind a fortune of which a considerable portion was meant for Ramcharan despite criminal allegations against him involving multiple aides. The bodies of both victims, along with Harris' dog, were discovered during a grisly scene that shocked the community.

After Days was charged five years post the murders, he had given a video confession that was later deemed coerced. He maintained his innocence throughout the trials, famously stating, "I didn’t commit this crime. I don’t know who did." The prolonged legal battles turned his life upside down, as he spent 16 years in prison before being declared not guilty.

The formation of a Conviction Review Unit by Rocah in 2021 aimed at uncovering wrongful convictions has now pivoted focus to the Harris and Ramcharan case, which aims for rectification and closure for all those affected.

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