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politics and media play huge roles.

in this particular case though, the author provides zero evidence that the crime wasnt committee. he hints that the guy was mentally not all there or "insane".

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The author himself (not the other guy who was executed in a rush) was offered the Alford Plea, which if I understand correctly means that the justice system does in fact believe he is innocent and doesn't want an innocent death on their hands, but also doesn't want to be held accountable for eighteen years of unjust incarceration — i.e., admit that a grave mistake was made.

(Please capitalize your sentences, it makes your contributions easer to read.)

Though that is kind of how it was used in Echol's case, in general the prosecutors think the person is guilty but don't want to spend money on the proof. Avoiding huge lawsuits was probably why it was used in this situation.

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