Michigan prisoner dies of coronavirus just weeks before parole

- William Garrison, a prisoner at Michigan in the US has died of COVID-19 just weeks to his release after 44 years behind bars

- The Black prisoner had been convicted in 1976 after a home invasion led him to shoot a man dead when he was only 16

- He had been sentenced to life in prison but was granted parole in 2020, and scheduled for release in September

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William Garrison, a prisoner at Michigan in the United States, has given up the ghost just weeks to getting released on parole, after spending 44 years behind bars.

Reports by Nypost and News9.com confirm that William Garrison was sentenced 44 years ago at a time when he was a juvenile.

It is reported that Garrison's death occurred after his bunkmate noticed that he was finding it difficult to breathe in their two-man cell at Macomb Correctional Facility.

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William Garrison was convicted for life in 1976 after his home was invaded and he shot and killed a man in the process, by which time he was only 16 years of age.

In January 2020, his case was reviewed and the sentence was split by half which meant Garrison could finally leave prison after spending practically his whole life behind bars.

He was offered an option to leave prison immediately or wait till September to do so, and the gentleman chose September to prepare himself adequately for life after prison.

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According to a statement by the Michigan Department of Corrections, staff had gone in to assess the prisoners and found them in good shape.

It said that the late Garrison's bunkmate indicated that he had a cough at the time but that was the only symptom the deceased had, for which he was not given serious attention.

In another sad news report, it was earlier shared by YEN.com.gh that one of the directors of famed children's cartoon, Tom and Jerry has died at the age of 95.

The Oscar award-winning Gene Deitch, whose full names are Eugene Merrill Deitch, passed away on Thursday, April 16, in his apartment in Prague, Czech Republic.

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Source: YEN.com.gh