Marty Tankleff, whose coerced false confession led to 17 years of incarceration, has been admitted to the bar in New York! He plans to represent people falsely accused of crimes. A tragic story with a wonderful turn.
Uncategorized
Henry Lee Lucas
I recommend Netflix new documentary series on Henry Lee Lucas, who gave hundreds of false confessions.
Lawsuit
Reid and Associates is suing Netflix over allegedly defamatory remarks in their drama about the Central Park Jogger case. Here’s a good account, featuring several quotes from myself and other false confessions experts. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/15/when-they-see-us-ava-duvernay-netflix-lawsuit-reid
Acquittal
Last week I testified in the highly-publicized trial of Skylar Richardson, an Ohio teenager accused of killing her newborn baby. She was acquitted, an encouraging sign that juries are coming to understand false confessions. It was my 34th case testifying as a false confessions expert witness.
Podcast
I am at work on what I hope will be a regular podcast about false confessions. Stay tuned!
More Central Park
Way back when, Donald Trump demanded the execution of the Central Park 5. Earlier this week, when asked about the case, Trump did not back down, noting that “they admitted their guilt.” The president is hardly a false confessions expert, but he should know better. Neither he nor anyone else should promote the dangerous and discredited idea that innocent people would never confess to a crime.
Central Park Jogger
Be sure to watch the new Netflix mini-series, “When They See Us,” about an amazing case involving five false confessions.
West Memphis Three
Anyone interested in seeing riveting documentaries of cases involving false confessions should watch the Paradise Lost trilogy about the West Memphis Three — an amazing case.
Cal & Col
California’s governor and Colorado’s legislature are both attempting to stop state-sanctioned executions. Given how many innocent people (a number of whom gave false confessions) have been on death row, these moves are welcome.
PASSED
Great News that the First Step Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. Among other benefits of this law, anyone wrongly convicted — based on false confessions or any other reason — will receive better opportunities. Our entire society should benefit.
