It's possible, and overwhelmingly likely, that she honestly believed he was the rapist (egged on by police/prosecutor manipulation of course).
This is the problem with people having all of their knowledge of criminology being from TV shows and movies.
Eyewitness testimony isn't some Gold Standard - it's horrifically unreliable and people have trouble identifying other people correctly (and studies show it's worse if the other person is of a different race - they really do "all look alike" (but it's true of every race).
People have this weird idea that a perp misidentification has to be the result of a lying witness.
“It’s possible, and overwhelmingly likely, that she honestly believed he was the rapist (egged on by police/prosecutor manipulation of course).
This is the problem with people having all of their knowledge of criminology being from TV shows and movies.
Eyewitness testimony isn’t some Gold Standard - it’s horrifically unreliable and people have trouble identifying other people correctly (and studies show it’s worse if the other person is of a different race - they really do “all look alike” (but it’s true of every race).
People have this weird idea that a perp misidentification has to be the result of a lying witness”
Indeed.
I read all the posts here to see if anyone would point this out. You finally did.
I know it’s counter intuitive, but eyewitness testimony is inherently unreliable. However, it is dangerously persuasive to a jury.
Study after study has proved that such testimony is of little probative value.
The DA is probably dead by now; but, if not, his/her handling of this matter should be investigated. Hell, it should be investigated anyway, dead or not.
It’s hard to imagine being imprisoned for any length of time for a crime you did not commit, much less 24 years.