Topic: Falsely Convicted, Freed and No Longer Quiet

[Pugnate]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/world/asia/14japan.html?ref=asia

I don't know what to make of this...

I feel sorry for him, and he is obviously innocent... but he did confess.

At the same time, his only crime seems to be that he was weak under pressure.

[Xessive]

It's a story we've heard all too often. Situations like this are what inspired certain laws in North America and Europe regarding confessions being only acceptable in certain conditions and with an attorney present.

It's been documented that innocent people tend confess to crimes they did not commit following physical or psychological abuse.

EDIT:
I just wanted to add that in the Arab world, perhaps the Middle-East in general, a confession regardless if it's true or not, is admissible and may bypass a trial completely resulting in immediate sentencing. Attempting to contest a confession is often considered redundant, with few exceptions i.e. an insanity plea etc.

It's pretty messed up here because human rights are not legally recognized.

[Cobra951]

The horrible thing is that this can happen to anyone, anywhere.  Brutal circumstance could land any innocent in jail.  It is then up to him to say and do the right things to extricate himself.  If he fails, he's fucked.  Anyone who believes in the "innocent until proven guilty" thing doesn't understand determined prosecutors at all.

[Ghandi]

The horrible thing is that this can happen to anyone, anywhere.  Brutal circumstance could land any innocent in jail.  It is then up to him to say and do the right things to extricate himself.  If he fails, he's fucked.  Anyone who believes in the "innocent until proven guilty" thing doesn't understand determined prosecutors at all.

This is true, but forensic evidence now plays a large part, at least in the states. It's at the point now where forensic evidence is demanded in large trials and to a detriment - people that seem obviously guilty are set free from lack of forensic evidence.

[Pugnate]

Anyone who believes in the "innocent until proven guilty" thing doesn't understand determined prosecutors at all.

Yea exactly. I guess they are more concerned with building stats and their careers rather than actual justice. Defense attorneys have 'win at all costs' attitudes regardless of whether they believe in their client's case because that's their job. But prosecutors should be about justice.

This is true, but forensic evidence now plays a large part, at least in the states. It's at the point now where forensic evidence is demanded in large trials and to a detriment - people that seem obviously guilty are set free from lack of forensic evidence.

Yea. I was reading something four years back that blamed CSI for juries demanding forensic evidence even in cases that were open and shut without it. Apparently it takes far too long to gather such evidence, and in most cases, it isn't even available.

[Xessive]

Haha man, people tend to forget that much of CSI is fantasy! Overnight DNA testing my ass. Now people expect DNA profiling to happen in a matter of hours rather than the average two weeks that it normally takes. I quit CSI when they shit all over my field: digital imaging.

[gpw11]

Yeah, the problem with shows like CSI aren't just that people demand the (expensive as shit) forensic evidence when it's not needed or applicable, but also that people have completely unrealistic expectations of the technology.  I was reading an article adressing this and how defence attorneys exploit this to the point that judges have begun directly addressing juries after selection and urging them to educate themselves on the reality of forensic techniques. 

[Ghandi]

It would really make things simpler if people just masturbated every time they committed a terrible crime.

[Pugnate]

hahahahahahahahaha

[gpw11]

It would really make things simpler if people just masturbated every time they committed a terrible crime.

"The Semen Bandit has struck again!"

Best stand up routine ever.

[Pugnate]

haha yea

[Xessive]

I miss Dave Chappelle.. I hope he makes a new, hilarious stand-up special.

[Pugnate]

He retired after converting to Islam.