Read on Twitter
In the last 2 years, Philly accounted for 1 in 10 homicide exonerations in the U.S. Most involved some allegation of official misconduct.
Those cases raise serious questions about Homicide Unit practices spanning decades. (thread) https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/philadelphia-murder-exonerations-wrongful-convictions-20210507.html">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/p...
Those cases raise serious questions about Homicide Unit practices spanning decades. (thread) https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/philadelphia-murder-exonerations-wrongful-convictions-20210507.html">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/p...
Way back in & #39;77, @bmarimow65 & colleagues published an iconic/terrifying @PhillyInquirer series about claims detectives beat, bludgeoned and stabbed suspects to close cases.
Detectives on the job then say there was no commitment to re-train or reform. https://www.inquirer.com/news/homicide-files-1977-series-police-beatings-confessions-20200710.html">https://www.inquirer.com/news/homi...
Detectives on the job then say there was no commitment to re-train or reform. https://www.inquirer.com/news/homicide-files-1977-series-police-beatings-confessions-20200710.html">https://www.inquirer.com/news/homi...
At the same time, Philly homicide detectives were clearing an extraordinary 80%+ of cases, well above the U.S. average.
That changed in 2014, coinciding with new policies: witnesses are told they may leave; interrogations are on video; there are time limits on questioning.
That changed in 2014, coinciding with new policies: witnesses are told they may leave; interrogations are on video; there are time limits on questioning.
Marc Bookman of @Atlantic_Ctr told me about a 1993 case in which detectives pleaded the Fifth to avoid testifying about an investigation. There were no consequences he said: "If you want to know why the Philadelphia homicide unit was running wild for years, look at that case."
Hundreds have been prosecuted even as witnesses recanted and alleged coercion. Here& #39;s a story of two men police concluded each killed the other& #39;s friend. Each denied making statements against the other--but the statements were used. Both were convicted. https://www.inquirer.com/crime/pennsylvania-murder-convictions-commonwealth-v-brady-20210507.html">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/pen...
“It’s up to the jury to decide whether they’re lying now or lying then,” is how one law professor explained the Pennsylvania rule that allows this practice.
Patricia Cummings, head of the DA& #39;s Conviction Integrity Unit, calls it "a license to bad cops."
https://www.inquirer.com/crime/pennsylvania-murder-convictions-commonwealth-v-brady-20210507.html">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/pen...
Patricia Cummings, head of the DA& #39;s Conviction Integrity Unit, calls it "a license to bad cops."
https://www.inquirer.com/crime/pennsylvania-murder-convictions-commonwealth-v-brady-20210507.html">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/pen...
This week came Philly& #39;s 20th exoneration since 2018: Obina Onyiah, who long claimed detectives coerced a confession.
"We just kept hearing Obina scream," his girlfriend testified at the time. A judge didn& #39;t believe her & deemed the confession voluntary. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-ciu-exoneration-da-larry-krasner-patricia-cummings-obina-onyiah-20210504.html">https://www.inquirer.com/news/phil...
"We just kept hearing Obina scream," his girlfriend testified at the time. A judge didn& #39;t believe her & deemed the confession voluntary. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-ciu-exoneration-da-larry-krasner-patricia-cummings-obina-onyiah-20210504.html">https://www.inquirer.com/news/phil...
Onyiah& #39;s lawyer, Teri Himebaugh, said she has many more cases just like his.
“What no one wants is for these cases to see the light — because once you start to open this can of worms, there are a lot of worms."
She& #39;s built a database to track it all: https://www.thepolicetransparencyproject.com/ ">https://www.thepolicetransparencyproject.com/">...
“What no one wants is for these cases to see the light — because once you start to open this can of worms, there are a lot of worms."
She& #39;s built a database to track it all: https://www.thepolicetransparencyproject.com/ ">https://www.thepolicetransparencyproject.com/">...
Families of victims say the result is a loss of trust-- which they say makes people less likely to cooperate “There might have been a 90% clearance rate. But if now they’re getting overturned, you didn’t have a 90% clearance rate. You had a large rate of creating destruction.”
Philadelphia homicide detectives still have no training on avoiding false confessions. The captain & chief inspector in charge of homicide said they were not aware of any such problem but believed video would prevent it.
Experts say that& #39;s not the case. https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/philadelphia-murder-exonerations-wrongful-convictions-20210507.html">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/p...
Experts say that& #39;s not the case. https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/philadelphia-murder-exonerations-wrongful-convictions-20210507.html">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/p...
We built our own database so you can filter and sort through recent exonerations, and examples of other cases where similar misconduct was alleged. https://www.inquirer.com/crime/inq2/philadelphia-murder-homicide-cases-database-20210507.html#/">https://www.inquirer.com/crime/inq...
