Networked Knowledge - Media Report

This version of the report has been prepared by: Dr Robert N Moles and Bibi Sangha
Underlining where it occurs is for editorial emphasis]

DNA Homepage
Article on UK miscarriage of justice cases
Article on Australian miscarriage of justice cases
Article on USA miscarriage of justice cases

19 September 2007 Newsday reported “Wrongfully convicted man files lawsuit in Westchester“.

White Plains, NY (AP) A man who wrongfully served 16 years in prison filed a lawsuit against the Westchester medical examiner and Peekskill police. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court alleges that the police and medical examiner fabricated evidence that led to the conviction of Jeffrey Deskovic in the 1989 murder of a 15-year-old Peekskill High School classmate. The lawsuit does not seek specific monetary damages. Deskovic was exonerated more than a year ago at age 33. The lawsuit argues that the authorities investigating the case knew from the outset that semen recovered from the victim did not come from the wrongfully accused man.

The lawsuit calls Deskovic's conviction the direct result of "a veritable perfect storm of misconduct by virtually every actor at every stage of his investigation and prosecution." The legal action was filed by the Manhattan firm of Cochran, Neufeld & Scheck. Barry Scheck, a member of the practice, is also the executive director of The Innocence Project, which took up Deskovic's case while he was imprisoned. Stuart Kahan, an attorney who represents Westchester County, said he could not comment on specifics of the lawsuit because he had not seen it. "We think it's a case that can be defended," he said.

Deskovic was cleared of the conviction after a new DNA test implicated another man and the suspect confessed.

Top of Page