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jeffw

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A Philly teen saw a murder, called 911 — and did 15 years in prison. Now, he’s exonerated. (www.inquirer.com)

submitted 1 year ago by jeffw to c/philadelphia

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When teenager Gary Hall was gunned down on a Nicetown street in 2006, his friends all seemed to know who did it.

They blamed Ivan Simmons, whose little brother had been seen arguing with Hall minutes earlier. A few months later, Simmons was fatally shot in what Hall’s friends told police was an act of revenge for Hall’s murder. And after that, a friend of Simmons shot Hall’s cousin — retaliation for the retaliation.

Yet Philadelphia police disregarded those statements, court filings show. Instead, they arrested someone else: David Sparks, a 16-year-old who’d been picked up for violating curfew the night of Hall’s killing.

Sparks was convicted and served 15 years in prison for Hall’s murder. He was exonerated Monday after the District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) and the Pennsylvania Innocence Project unearthed extensive, previously undisclosed evidence in police files pointing to Simmons as the shooter.

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[–] Alteon 39 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wow. We need laws that make this sort of shit illegal. Cops need to be going to prison for this sort of purposeful injustice. 1 year for every year the person that they falsely accused was charged for. Like for like.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago

Don't forget the prosecutors who turn the cop bullshit into an actual conviction.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago

District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) and the Pennsylvania Innocence Project unearthed extensive, previously undisclosed evidence in police files pointing to Simmons as the shooter.

It's always lies from police in these cases. Always.

When you are on jury duty and expected to believe their testimony without question, remember that.

I swear I posted a similar comment a minute ago and it vanished.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (3 children)

What do you even do in this situation? I don't think I could do 15 years in prison. Does anyone owe the guy apology money or something because this is total shit.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Give the guy a free pass to burn down the police station.

[–] jeffw 6 points 1 year ago

Typically they’ll get a payout of some kind (weirdly enough, I posted a similar story about a wrongful conviction on this community a couple days ago)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

He'll get some financial compensation that won't come close that what was taken from him.

What he should get is 5 consequence-free minutes in a locked room with the cops who put him there.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

A great example of why one shouldn't talk to the cops for any reason