Missouri Judge Cites ‘Actual Innocence’ in Overturning Conviction of Man Imprisoned Nearly 30 Years
Ask students: What evidence helped lead to Johnson’s release? How can prosecutors in Missouri now get new hearings in cases of wrongful convictions?
Lamar Johnson is interviewed by PBS NewsHour
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August 15, 2023
Ask students: What evidence helped lead to Johnson’s release? How can prosecutors in Missouri now get new hearings in cases of wrongful convictions?
Share
In February, a Missouri judge overturned the conviction of Lamar Johnson, a man who served nearly 28 years of a life sentence for a murder he didn’t commit. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner says an investigation conducted by her office with the help of the Innocence Project convinced her Johnson was telling the truth. Circuit Judge David Mason cited actual innocence during the court case.
In 1995, Johnson was convicted for the murder of Marcus Boyd. Police and prosecutors say a dispute over drug money led to Boyd’s death. Johnson says he wasn’t at the scene of the crime when it happened. But he was identified by James Gregory Elking who said last December that he felt “bullied” and “pressured” by Detective Joseph Nickereson to testify against Johnson.
The Missouri Supreme Court had initially denied Johnson’s request for a new trial. The case prompted Missouri to pass a law making it easier for prosecutors to get new hearings in cases where there is fresh evidence of a wrongful conviction. Click here for the full story.
News analysis: Discuss and debate the following. Do journalists reporting on criminal justice rely too much on institutional sources like police, judges and prosecutors? If so, how can criminal justice reporting be more balanced?
This story is part of NewsHour’s “Searching for Justice” Series. Searching for Justice explores criminal justice reforms unfolding across the country, as the leaders from both sides of the political aisle attempt to end mass incarceration by rethinking laws that some say have become barriers to work, housing, and economic stability. Click here for more stories and the series and watch for more NewsHour Classroom lesson content based on Searching for Justice stories.
What can students do? Research other cases listed on the Innocence Project website and read about ways to take action. Try coming up with your own ideas to take action, outside of the suggestions listed on the website.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
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