trying to explain why he lied during the trial in 1985. alston said he was 19 and already facing lesser charges in other crimes. he was brought in for questioning. the new 46-year-oldel to the court he was not at the crime scene and only agreed to cooperate after being told by police he could get life in prison. when asked why he was recanting now, alston replied i sent innocent men to prison on a made-up lie. i hurt their families, i hurt these men. i was wrong and i m trying to correct a wrong. but on cross-examination, the prosecutor asked him this: you were on the stand for three days, weren t you, mr. alston? yes. your plea agreement was read to the court, correct? yes. you admitted previously lying, correct? yes. you were cross-examined by seven attorneys, is that right? yes. you wrote a letter to the judge who would be sentenceing you admitting your involvement, correct? yes and you never filed a motion to withdraw your guilty plea. alston replied yes to th