In New York City, twenty-two years ago, the most serious mistake the United States justice system can make became a reality.  A man was falsely convicted of murder.  After spending much of his life in prison, on Thursday, David Ranta walked out of a New York City courthouse as a free man. 

In an attempted diamond heist, a rabbi was shot and killed.  The original target, a jewelry courier, escaped unscathed.  Ranta was charged with second-degree murder and later sentenced to 37 ½ years to life in prison.

Since Ranta’s trial, multiple pieces of evidence and information have come to light.  A widow accused her late husband, who was a suspect early in the investigation, of committing the murder.  In addition, a major component of the prosecutor’s case, Ranta being picked out of a lineup by a 13 year old boy, turned out to be a fraud.  Recently this individual came forward, stating that he was told to “pick the guy with the big nose.”  Finally, an inmate that gave his testimony at the trial and provided evidence against Ranta admitted that he fabricated his statement in order to appear cooperative to aid with his own case. 

In my opinion the rush to judgment and deception shown by the detectives that handled this case is terrible.  It is inexcusable and cost 22 years of a man’s life.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/21/justice/new-york-conviction-overturned/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1