wrongful convictions unit 3

Mr. Big Stings

A legal strategy used in undercover operations to arrest suspects for committing crimes.

William Mullins-Johnson

A man wrongfully convicted of strangling and sexually assaulting his 4-year-old niece, with no physical forensic evidence linking him to the crime.

David Milgaard

Wrongfully convicted of killing Gail Miller, a young woman who was sexually assaulted and murdered; spent 17 years in prison before DNA evidence cleared him.

Kyle Unger

Wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder for the brutal murder of his friend Genier; the only evidence was a hair that did not belong to him.

Erin Walsh

Wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder after a shooting incident involving friends, where he was attacked and a gun went off during a struggle.

Steven Truscott

Charged with the murder of Lynne, a girl he was seen giving a ride to; he was wrongfully convicted and initially sentenced to hanging.

Donald Marshall Jr.

Wrongfully convicted of murdering 17-year-old Sandy Seale, without proof; he was present at a fight where another person committed the stabbing.

Circumstantial Evidence

Indirect evidence that allows an inference about the guilt of the accused, such as an item belonging to the accused found at the crime scene.

Inculpatory Evidence

Evidence used to establish the guilt of a defendant in a criminal trial, indicating they may have committed the crime.

Exculpatory Evidence

Evidence that can exonerate a defendant, showing they are not guilty of the crime or undermining the prosecution's case.

Alibi

A defense strategy proving a defendant was elsewhere when the crime was committed, providing a legitimate reason for not being at the crime scene.

Demonstrative Evidence

Evidence that illustrates or clarifies facts in the case, often through models, photographs, or other visual aids.

Documentary Evidence

Evidence consisting of documents, records, or other written materials used to support claims or demonstrate facts in a legal case.

DNA Testing

Evidence that analyzes genetic material to establish identity or link a suspect to a crime scene.

Fingerprints

Evidence obtained from the unique patterns on an individual's fingers, used for identification in criminal investigations.

Impressions

Evidence left by a person's footwear or other objects that can be matched to a specific suspect or scene.

Fibers

Material threads that can be traced back to a garment or textile found at a crime scene, used to link a suspect to a victim or location.

Ballistics

The study of projectiles and firearms, crucial in determining the origin and trajectory of bullets in criminal investigations.

Privileged Communications

Conversations between parties such as attorney-client or doctor-patient, protected by law from being disclosed in a legal setting.

Similar Facts Evidence

Allows use of evidence from other similar incidents to establish patterns, intent, or motive in a court of law.

Hearsay Evidence

Information presented in court that is not based on a witness's direct knowledge but what others have said; generally inadmissible.

Opinion Evidence

Testimony expressing a witness's beliefs or perspectives, rather than factual evidence, and subject to court qualifications.

Character Evidence

Evidence used to demonstrate a person's character traits, usually to show they acted according to those traits during an incident.