Anthony McKinney
Chicago prosecutors allege journalism students paid for interviews
Northwestern students paid witnesses, prosecutors allege Professor denies 2 men received money in effort to prove convicted killer is innocent
Two witnesses told investigators they were paid during a probe by Northwestern University journalism students into a 1978 shotgun slaying that the students believe unjustly sent a Harvey man to prison for life, prosecutors alleged Tuesday.
The witnesses told investigators with the Cook County state’s attorney’s office that they were given money in the hopes that their statements would help free Anthony McKinney, convicted of murdering a security guard, prosecutors said in a court filing. The witnesses were identified as Tony Drakes and Michael Lane.
“This evidence shows that Tony Drakes gave his video statement upon the understanding that he would receive cash if he gave the answers that inculpated himself and that Drakes promptly used the money to purchase crack cocaine,” according to the filing.
Prosecutors also said that students with Northwestern’s Innocence Project haven’t turned over records of two interviews with Lane, who told state investigators he was also paid “$50 to $100, but did not sign anything or give information,” the court filing alleges.