DNA Tests Clear Wrongfully Convicted Half-Brothers After 30 Years

[bhsmte]

In his confession, McCollom gave very specific details that matched the crime scene evidence. The only DNA evidence I've heard that was presented now was a cigarette butt. Hardly exculpatory

It takes quite a bit of new evidence to overturn a conviction.

 

[MachZer0]

It takes quite a bit of new evidence to overturn a conviction.

The only evidence I've heard so far is that a cigarette butt with another criminal's DNA was found near the scene. Perhaps someone has more to offer

 

[bhsmte]

The only evidence I've heard so far is that a cigarette butt with another criminal's DNA was found near the scene. Perhaps someone has more to offer

Read the OP.

No physical evidence tied the two to the crime. Confession obtained from mentally disabled people, that was claimed to have been coerced and the dude that lived nearby, had his DNA found at the scene and he admitted to another rape around the same time.

It that ain't reasonable doubt, I don't know what is.

 

[MachZer0]

Read the OP.

No physical evidence tied the two to the crime. Confession obtained from mentally disabled people, that was claimed to have been coerced and the dude that lived nearby, had his DNA found at the scene and he admitted to another rape around the same time.

It that ain't reasonable doubt, I don't know what is.

The confession was very precise, naming the who, what and where and why, matching the evidence found at the crime scene. Very precise

 

[Belk]

The confession was very precise, naming the who, what and where and why, matching the evidence found at the crime scene. Very precise

Yes, we already know the confession was coerced. You don't need to reiterate it.

 

[bhsmte]

In his confession, McCollom gave very specific details that matched the crime scene evidence. The only DNA evidence I've heard that was presented now was a cigarette butt. Hardly exculpatory

This information, appears to show the weakness of the case to begin with and the fact the story (confession) the two told under duress, was full of lies.

Too late for justice for two brothers? - Robesonian - robesonian.com

 

[cow451]

In his confession, McCollom gave very specific details that matched the crime scene evidence. The only DNA evidence I've heard that was presented now was a cigarette butt. Hardly exculpatory

As others have pointed out, many people, especially the young (and, in this case the mentally disabled) have made false confessions. And, these confessions are often "guided" by the interrogator. The DA and judge apparently found the confessions alone too weak to support the conviction.

People with mental disabilities have often falsely confessed because they are tempted to accommodate and agree with authority figures. Further, many law enforcement interrogators are not given any special training on questioning suspects with mental disabilities. An impaired mental state due to mental illness, drugs or alcohol may also elicit false admissions of guilt.

 

[OGM]

Also I have seen minors give false confessions when being goated.

 

[Loudmouth]

Well, since the DNA evidence exonerates them, I believe the state government of North Carolina, should be making sure that these two individuals are looked after for the rest of their days. They lost 30 years of their lives because the justice system screwed up and had 2 innocent men incarcerated.

It was a really bad 30 years. One of the brothers had to sit on death row, watching other prisoners being hauled off and executed wondering when it would be his turn. Also, both brothers had "intellectual disabilities", so that kind of adds to it.

I'm with you. Somebody needs to take charge and see that these men are taken care for the rest of their days above ground, just in the name of common decency.

 

[Belk]

Also I have seen minors give false confessions when being goated.

 

[FreedByte]

Didn't Justice Scalia hold this guy up as an example of why the death penalty is ok, or something along those lines?

Has to be a bit embarrassing for him.

Yes, I have that in the OP.

 

[FreedByte]

By contrast, guilty people are let free and justice is left to rot. That is also absolutely unacceptable.

To support the death penalty when conservative estimates put the percent of innocent people on death row at 4% is to have an absolute disregard for human life.

 

[FreedByte]

REgardless, they were found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The current situation not having to endure the same scrutiny as that in the trial. Evidence like CONFESSIONS

One of the main reasons Chicago got rid of the death penalty was a very high rate of forced confessions.

 

[Brigid48]

The confession was very precise, naming the who, what and where and why, matching the evidence found at the crime scene. Very precise

It sounds like you don't have a grasp of how these sorts of coerced false confessions work. the police lock the person (in this case ersons with mental disabilities) into an interrigation room for hours and hammer them with questions, slipping in details amongst the questions and inside the questions that they want the person to use when they finally give up and give a false condession.

 

[MachZer0]

Yes, we already know the confession was coerced. You don't need to reiterate it.

Difficult to coerce such a concise confession

 

[MachZer0]

This information, appears to show the weakness of the case to begin with and the fact the story (confession) the two told under duress, was full of lies.

Too late for justice for two brothers? - Robesonian - robesonian.com

Allegedly under duress

 

[Loudmouth]

Difficult to coerce such a concise confession

Not when they are mentally challenged and you feed them the concise confession.

 

[Loudmouth]

Allegedly under duress

After the recent discovery of evidence, I think you can drop the allegedly.

 

[MachZer0]

As others have pointed out, many people, especially the young (and, in this case the mentally disabled) have made false confessions. And, these confessions are often "guided" by the interrogator. The DA and judge apparently found the confessions alone too weak to support the conviction.

People with mental disabilities have often falsely confessed because they are tempted to accommodate and agree with authority figures. Further, many law enforcement interrogators are not given any special training on questioning suspects with mental disabilities. An impaired mental state due to mental illness, drugs or alcohol may also elicit false admissions of guilt.

Many also recant confessions even though they're guilty. Simply stated, there really wasn't enough DNA evidence provided to overturn the convictions as far as I can see

 

[MachZer0]

It was a really bad 30 years. One of the brothers had to sit on death row, watching other prisoners being hauled off and executed wondering when it would be his turn. Also, both brothers had "intellectual disabilities", so that kind of adds to it.

I'm with you. Somebody needs to take charge and see that these men are taken care for the rest of their days above ground, just in the name of common decency.

Meantime, a little girl never got the chance to see lots of things that other little girls get to see