Steely Dan Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/21/assaul...nted/index.html What the hell? She made up the story, all six confessed, supposedly there is more evidence than just her story. This is really fascinating. He said she was "fully aware" that she might face criminal charges, "but she still wanted to go forward with this." Brian Abraham, the former Logan County prosecutor who handled the case, defended the convictions. "The case wasn't based on her statements," he said, noting that Williams never testified in the case. "The case was based on the evidence discovered by the police, including the confessions of the six defendants." He added, "All six of them have been in jail without filing appeals. If they file something afterwards, the evidence was pretty overwhelming for the charges on which they were convicted."
Steely Dan Posted October 22, 2009 Author Posted October 22, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091022/ap_on_..._woman_tortured Potts said Williams has received several anonymous phone calls from people threatening her life. ____________________________________________ In a January interview with The Call & Post, a black newspaper in Cleveland, Williams acknowledged she had been mistreated but said her mother made her embellish the story for exposure and financial gain. Williams told the newspaper that she was afraid of her mother, who knew some of the defendants. Williams' mother, Carmen Williams, died in June. Potts said he did not know what role the mother might have had in fabricating the case. Curiouser and curiouser.
Beerball Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091022/ap_on_..._woman_tortured Potts said Williams has received several anonymous phone calls from people threatening her life. ____________________________________________ In a January interview with The Call & Post, a black newspaper in Cleveland, Williams acknowledged she had been mistreated but said her mother made her embellish the story for exposure and financial gain. Williams told the newspaper that she was afraid of her mother, who knew some of the defendants. Williams' mother, Carmen Williams, died in June. Potts said he did not know what role the mother might have had in fabricating the case. Curiouser and curiouser. Why exactly would the AP put this quote in their article: a black newspaper in Cleveland what is a black newspaper (other than one that would be very hard to read)?
KD in CA Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 what is a black newspaper (other than one that would be very hard to read)? It's a newspaper written by and specifically for the black community.
Beerball Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 It's a newspaper written by and specifically for the black community. ahhh so, that's what is should say... but it would be OK if I read it?
UConn James Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 You know, I don't want to touch this case specifically b/c it's about as clear as the water in the Charles River.... But I will say that this phenomenon of accusation - recanting/proved hoax has happened time out of mind. Some really didn't happen, but for some victims, PTSD can do strange things to the brain. The guilty pleas aren't surprising. That's how the justice system works. Too many times, people who didn't do something they're accused of plead guilty for lesser sentences to avoid prosecution and putting their lives in the balance with, as DC Tom says, "12 people who were stupid enough to not know how to get out of jury duty" and with much bigger sentences. This is not even to speak of the phenomenon of people who are perfectly innocent confessing after being in the interrogation room --- some people just crack and come to believe that they actually did whatever they're being charged with. It's weird but it happens. Last point, twenty'll get you one that hate-mongers Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson won't have anything to say. Maybe a high-pitched, "That's different!"
UConn James Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 ahhh so, that's what is should say... but it would be OK if I read it? No. If you did, Sharpton and Jackson would say you're a racist.
KD in CA Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 ahhh so, that's what is should say... Writers only get so many lines to fit in the story. You gotta economize on the words there, Sensitive Sally. but it would be OK if I read it? You can read?
Marv's Neighbor Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 When you're raised in WV all those "abused in a Trailer" stories sorta run together!
Chef Jim Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 ahhh so, that's what is should say... but it would be OK if I read it? Diesel down buddy. Ever hear of a White Paper? You've never heard the black community complain about them so why should you start with this?
Steely Dan Posted October 22, 2009 Author Posted October 22, 2009 ahhh so, that's what is should say... but it would be OK if I read it? Chinese paper? When you're raised in WV all those "abused in a Trailer" stories sorta run together!
Chalkie Gerzowski Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 ahhh so, that's what is should say... but it would be OK if I read it? it has white font.
Fewell733 Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 that's just good police work. Make up that there's a lot of evidence or that the others are dime-ing you out and then you make a deal for a lesser charge with a confession. That's how the vast majority of people get in jail - but of course most of them actually are guilty, but certainly not all of them.
John Adams Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 From reading the stories, it doesn't sound like all of the accused were innocent--maybe just not AS guilty of exactly the crime they were accused of.
Britbillsfan Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 'Confessions' are pretty weak evidence a lot of the time. Plenty of people have been sent to jail / the gallows/chair based upon false confessions (and not even via the use of torture). Some people (well quite a lot of people) will just fold to get out of the immediate unpleasant situation (questioned by the scarey police officer), even if it only puts them in a worse situation later on (life in jail with really scarey criminals, if they are lucky). Unless a confession includes information unknown to anyone but the police investigating it and the criminal who committed the act it should always be looked at with caution.
Steely Dan Posted October 23, 2009 Author Posted October 23, 2009 'Confessions' are pretty weak evidence a lot of the time. Plenty of people have been sent to jail / the gallows/chair based upon false confessions (and not even via the use of torture). Some people (well quite a lot of people) will just fold to get out of the immediate unpleasant situation (questioned by the scarey police officer), even if it only puts them in a worse situation later on (life in jail with really scarey criminals, if they are lucky). Unless a confession includes information unknown to anyone but the police investigating it and the criminal who committed the act it should always be looked at with caution. I definitely agree with you there, but it doesn't seem to be the case in this situation, IMO. Supposedly there is more evidence than just their confessions. In fact it seems like the weight of the evidence is what coerced the confessions.
KD in CA Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 From reading the stories, it doesn't sound like all of the accused were innocent--maybe just not AS guilty of exactly the crime they were accused of. Or, they could be guilty of all charges and the girl could be lying now. Apparently this girl is a bit unstable. Who's to say she hasn't blamed herself for the attack and as a result has built up a lot of guilt over these guys' convictions. No way to tell, and it's worth a review of the case. But a recanting witness shouldn't automatically spring convicted felons.
Britbillsfan Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 No way to tell, and it's worth a review of the case. But a recanting witness shouldn't automatically spring convicted felons. Definitely agree with this. But the cases like this should always be looked at again in case innocent people are sent down.
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