Jailed man becomes own lawyer, has murder conviction overturned

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Pretty cool story. I would imagine Will Smith will star in the inevitable movie.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...554448476.html

Excellent story, and well written. I'd watch this as a movie for SURE.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by valo403

When the "technicalities" consist of gross misconduct on the behalf of the District Attorney I'm more than okay with people who may have actually commited a crime walking free.

Of course. I'm just saying keep in mind he is probably a murderer before you offer him your daughter in marriage.

[worth]

no way dude. he couldn't have killed that rabbi. he was at home getting a haircut.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Of course. I'm just saying keep in mind he is probably a murderer before you offer him your daughter in marriage.

I don't know that I'd say probably here, this was more than technicalities, it was questionable evidence at nearly every stage. As far as I can tell from the article basically every piece of evidence was heavily tainted, I'd actually lean more towards him probably not being a murderer.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by valo403

I don't know that I'd say probably here, this was more than technicalities, it was questionable evidence at nearly every stage. As far as I can tell from the article basically every piece of evidence was heavily tainted, I'd actually lean more towards him probably not being a murderer.

You'd have to review the whole file to have a better idea. Presumably, the cops liked this guy for the murder for some compelling reason. The DA then went overboard in making the case "tight", and essentially manufactured witness evidence. Don't get me wrong - I 100% agree with him going free - but he was not exonerated. I'm assuming if this was a case of the nasty, white cops grabbing a random black guy with a sketchy record, and pinning a crime on him, we would have heard about it. The article talks all about procedure and witness tampering, and there is absolutely no mention as to why he was charged in the first place. Therefore, I draw certain conclusions.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

No indication that he is actually innocent, just that he was wrongfully convicted...

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but many people learn how to hustle in prison and many con-men have learned their skills there.

No doubt corruption was rampant and the investigators fudged it, but you could say the same thing about the OJ trial, but we all know he stil did it.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

You'd have to review the whole file to have a better idea. Presumably, the cops liked this guy for the murder for some compelling reason. The DA then went overboard in making the case "tight", and essentially manufactured witness evidence. Don't get me wrong - I 100% agree with him going free - but he was not exonerated. I'm assuming if this was a case of the nasty, white cops grabbing a random black guy with a sketchy record, and pinning a crime on him, we would have heard about it. The article talks all about procedure and witness tampering, and there is absolutely no mention as to why he was charged in the first place. Therefore, I draw certain conclusions.

The article also talks about essentially every witness of importance linking him to the crime scene being compelled or threatened into their statements, that's not a procedural issue. Absent those statements it's likely this never even makes it past a grand jury.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by valo403

The article also talks about essentially every witness of importance linking him to the crime scene being compelled or threatened into their statements, that's not a procedural issue. Absent those statements it's likely this never even makes it past a grand jury.

Maybe - again, what else is in the file? Why did the DA pressure witnesses to identify THIS guy?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Maybe - again, what else is the file? Why did the DA pressure witnesses to identify THIS guy?

Exactly - there is often a lot of evidence that does not see the light of the court-room because it was improperly obtained.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Maybe - again, what else is in the file? Why did the DA pressure witnesses to identify THIS guy?

Plenty of reasons, one being that he was already in custody. There would without a doubt have been heavy political pressure to put somebody in cuffs and on trial quickly here, that neighborhood still has plenty of tension between the various groups living there (although now it's mostly hipsters and orthodox jews bickering over the dress of bike riders, seriously) and it would have been worse then. If you have someone who fits a description in custody you're halway there, look past a litany of abuses and don't follow up on other leads, including a possible alibi, and look at that you've got yourself a case. Then put an experienced DA up against an overworked and under skilled public defender and hey, look at that, those abuses don't come up and you've got yourself a conviction.

I'd love to not be that cynical, but I've been privy to enough of the workings at other DA's offices, as well as the public defenders office, to be highly suspect of anything. There's far too many people in far too important of roles who have a focus on getting results rather than getting justice, they are a black mark on the profession and I'm ashamed to call them colleagues.