Number	24164
Subject	Wrongful Convictions
Source	WTVT-TV (Tampa, Fla.)
State	FL
Year	2008
Publication Date	1/27/2008; 4/08/2008; 4/09/2008; 4/18/2008; 6/18/2008
Summary	Jean Claude Meus was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The Florida Highway Patrol put together evidence showing Meus fell asleep at the wheel, lost control of his semi truck and overturned on minivan, killing a mother and daughter. The investigative team interviewed the first witness on the scene of the accident, who said Meus was alert and helpful immediately after the crash. Using evidence obtained from measurements, photos, etc., the asked an outside expert to map the scene and reconstruct the crash. The conclusion? Meus was awake and intentionally steered his truck off the roadway. The story fit with what Meus said, that he had swerved to avoid an oncoming car and lost control before overturning onto the van. When two jurors on the case agreed to meet with the new team and look at the new evidence, they concluded they would not have been able to convict Meus if this information had been presented at trial.
Category	Contest Entry
Pages	19
Keywords	wrongful conviction; Florida; vehicular homicide; reconstructed evidence; mapping; highway patrol
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