The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "eyewitness testimony" ...
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Wrongful Arrest?
On a tip that a viewer's 74-year-old father was in jail for a string of Wal-Mart robberies he did not commit, KCTV investigated the challenge of righting a conviction wrong when found on the wrong side of the law.
Tags: wrongful arrest; wrongful conviction; criminal justice; crime statistics; criminal record; eyewitness testimony
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Stolen Youth
Erick Daniels was sent to jail for 10 years "Based on the shape of his eyebrows." After investigating the case, Secret found that there were discrepancies starting with the eyewitness testimony.
Tags: line up; gambling; burglary; evidence; trial; eyewitness; Erick Daniels; Ruth Brown
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A Shot in the Arm
Police arrested Darryl Burton on June 28, 1984, for the shooting death of Donald Ball, a notorious neighborhood gangster. Burton's trial in 1985 lasted two days, and a St. Louis jury found him guilty of capital murder and armed criminal action. Circuit Judge Jack L. Koehr sentenced the 23 year old Burton to life in prison. This story explores the murder conviction and the obstacles Burton has encountered in trying to get the conviction reversed. He was convicted on the strength of two eyewitness accounts. Gay finds that one of the eyewitnesses admitted perjury, and the other has had his character and testimony impugned by the arrival of new testimony.
Tags: Darryl Burton; reversed conviction; Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; habeas corpus; FOI
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Innocent
This story from the San Francisco Bay Guardian investigates the conviction of two people who had spent more than a decade behind bars. The reporter found out that the police department had withheld evidence in the trial including eye witness testimony that absolved them of the crime. Backed by this investigation and re-opening of the case, the two were released from prison after thirteen years in prison.
Tags: innocent conviction; John. J Tennison; Roderick Shannon; Antoine Goff; withholding evidence; eyewitness testimony; re-opening cases
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Mistaken Identity, et. al
The Associated Press reports on the use of DNA testing to get wrongfully convicted prisoners freed. In this eight-part series, the AP probes the willingness of judges and prosecutors to turn to DNA evidence, the storage of crucial evidence, research that throws doubt over the reliability of eyewitness testimony and tells the story of innocent men struggling for justice and freedom.
Tags: DNA testing; wrongful conviction
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Eyewitnesses Confuse, Convict in Humboldt Park Murder Cases
This monthly publication "examined 10 homicides that took place in West Site Humboldt Park area" of Chicago. The investigation showed that "the cases revealed a pattern of scant evidence and questionable police practices." The reporter also found that "nine of ten cases relied heavily on eyewitness testimony" and that "in seven cases, witnesses were either using drugs or alcohol, rival gang members, jailhouse informants or codefendants." Among the major findings was the fact that "the Chicago Police Department uses practices that experts in witness identification argue are counter to picking the perpetrator from a photo array or police lineup."
Tags: wrongful convictions; Hispanic; murder; identification; courts
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Burned; On the Hot Seat
The Riverfront Times reports "about prosecutorial misconduct and about the controversial use of 'snitches.' In 1983, Ellen Reasonover was convicted of murdering a gas station attendant in a botched robbery attempt. She claimed she was innocent, and there was no physical evidence or any eyewitnesses. The conviction was based solely on two jailhouse snitches who, in exchange for testimonies against Reasonover, were given deals by the prosecutor... (who) did not tell the defense or the jury about the deals..."
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Impossible Mission
CBS News 48 Hours reports that "Crosley Green was convicted of murder in 1989 and is awaiting execution on Florida's death row. IMPOSSIBLE MISSION follows an investigative 'dream team,' working for free, as it travels to Florida to unravel the case against Green. In just one week this team unearths critical testimony, exposes phony eyewitness accounts and finds new evidence in a case many considered hopeless. IMPOSSIBLE MISSION resulted in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement re-opening Green's case."