The debate over whether a group of university students investigating a 1987 murder conviction paid witnesses to say what they wanted to hear reminds me of the late, great crime drama "The Wire." Specifically, I'm reminded of the drug-addicted but principled (and reliable) police informant Bubbles.
But first, a recap:
As has been widely reported, Northwestern University journalism students affiliated with the Chicago-based Innocence Project claim to have compiled evidence proving that Anthony McKinney was wrongly convicted and imprisoned (31 years) for a crime he did not commit. Prosecutors, on the other hand, say that's baloney and now are accusing the students of paying witnesses for testimony that helps their cause.
A reasonable person might argue that prosecutors could be motivatived to bury any new evidence suggesting they sent the wrong man to death row, which is not the same as saying they made it all up. The stakes are high for all parties, but why would the Innocence Project risk tarnishing its track record of exonerating so many (245, to be exact) wrongly convicted individuals (either through corrupt prosecution or inadequate defense)?
Prosecutors say the Northwestern students paid witnesses as much as $100, which the witnesses allegedly used to purchase crack cocaine. The students, however, say the prosecutors made all of this up and that all they paid for was cab fare.
But the real point is whether this is all just a tempest in a teapot, even if prosecutors are correct.
Bubbles, one of the main protagonists in "The Wire" and a hardcore heroin addict, provided reliable information to Baltimore's finest in order to expose the power structure of the city's violent drug trade. He also was more than willing to accept a little cash for his honest work, nearly all of it spent on drugs.
If it's good enough for the cops, shouldn't it also be good enough for student volunteers investigating an allegedly botched murder conviction?
More information about exonerations:
- List of exonerated capital convictions in Illinois (Northwestern University's Center on Wrongful Convictions)
- How to get involved in exonerating wrongfully convicted inmates (Innocence Project)
- Click here for a directory of Chicago criminal defense lawyers.
ShareThis
