OK, only one of them was actually on Death Row for the decades. But both were innocent.
Two mentally impaired half-brothers, Henry McCollum and Leon Brown (now 50 and 46) have been freed after thirty years in prison in North Carolina. They were convicted in 1984 (aged 19 and 15) of the rape and murder an 11-year-old girl, Sabrina Buie.
Mr McCollum and Mr Brown were picked up by police a few weeks after the crime and "confessed" to the crime. There was no physical evidence connecting them to the crime.
Mr McCollum confessed after five hours of intense questioning, without a lawyer or family member present. His younger brother also signed a confession written by the police.
The two later recanted their confessions in court, saying they were made under duress. But despite a weak case, the brothers were found guilty and given death sentences.
BBC
RTE
All of the classic signs; high profile case, no physical evidence, recanted confessions extracted without legal representation...
How many more?
Two mentally impaired half-brothers, Henry McCollum and Leon Brown (now 50 and 46) have been freed after thirty years in prison in North Carolina. They were convicted in 1984 (aged 19 and 15) of the rape and murder an 11-year-old girl, Sabrina Buie.
Mr McCollum and Mr Brown were picked up by police a few weeks after the crime and "confessed" to the crime. There was no physical evidence connecting them to the crime.
Mr McCollum confessed after five hours of intense questioning, without a lawyer or family member present. His younger brother also signed a confession written by the police.
The two later recanted their confessions in court, saying they were made under duress. But despite a weak case, the brothers were found guilty and given death sentences.
BBC
RTE
All of the classic signs; high profile case, no physical evidence, recanted confessions extracted without legal representation...
How many more?
via JREF Forum http://ift.tt/1sZdZmk
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