Read Online The Wrong Carlos Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution James Liebman Shawn Crowley JD Andrew Markquart JD Lauren Rosenberg JD Lauren White JD Daniel Zharkovsky JD 9780231167239 Books
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In 1989, Texas executed Carlos DeLuna, a poor Hispanic man with childlike intelligence, for the murder of Wanda Lopez, a convenience store clerk. His execution passed unnoticed for years until a team of Columbia Law School faculty and students almost accidentally chose to investigate his case and found that DeLuna almost certainly was innocent. They discovered that no one had cared enough about either the defendant or the victim to make sure the real perpetrator was found. Everything that could go wrong in a criminal case did. This book documents DeLuna's conviction, which was based on a single, nighttime, cross-ethnic eyewitness identification with no corroborating forensic evidence. At his trial, DeLuna's defense, that another man named Carlos had committed the crime, was not taken seriously. The lead prosecutor told the jury that the other Carlos, Carlos Hernandez, was a "phantom" of DeLuna's imagination. In upholding the death penalty on appeal, both the state and federal courts concluded the same thing Carlos Hernandez did not exist.
The evidence the Columbia team uncovered reveals that Hernandez not only existed but was well known to the police and prosecutors. He had a long history of violent crimes similar to the one for which DeLuna was executed. Families of both Carloses mistook photos of each for the other, and Hernandez's violence continued after DeLuna was put to death. This book and its website (thewrongcarlos.net) reproduce law-enforcement, crime lab, lawyer, court, social service, media, and witness records, as well as court transcripts, photographs, radio traffic, and audio and videotaped interviews, documenting one of the most comprehensive investigations into a criminal case in U.S. history.
The result is eye-opening yet may not be unusual. Faulty eyewitness testimony, shoddy legal representation, and prosecutorial misfeasance continue to put innocent people at risk of execution. The principal investigators conclude with novel suggestions for improving accuracy among the police, prosecutors, forensic scientists, and judges.
Read Online The Wrong Carlos Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution James Liebman Shawn Crowley JD Andrew Markquart JD Lauren Rosenberg JD Lauren White JD Daniel Zharkovsky JD 9780231167239 Books
"I did not go into this book naive to the faults of our 'justice' system. Even so, I was astounded by the absolute failure and incompetence of the so-called professionals at every step of this case.
The authors do an excellent job of laying out the facts of Wanda Lopez's murder, as well as giving us background into the early lives of both Carlos DeLuna and Carlos Hernandez. Much of the text reads like a crime novel. The narrative flows well and the authors avoid the complicated legal jargon as much as possible. When needed, the issues are explained so that the casual reader without a law degree understands.
Details are not spared here. Wanda Lopez's murder was brutal and vicious, and the authors make sure we 'see' that. This story is not for the squeamish. But I do not fault the authors for providing the gory details. In fact, I believe those details were necessary for this case to be fully understood.
There is no doubt that an innocent man was put to death, murdered by our justice system, by us. While that in itself is appalling, the injustices run far deeper. During the time an innocent man was persecuted, the guilty man went along his destructive path unimpeded. His name and reputation were fully known to law enforcement. He flaunted his crimes, bragged about his killings. Innocent people died and lives were forever altered. Had even one person done his/her job correctly along the way, lives could have been spared.
Because this case is old, you might think things have improved. But, despite our scientific advancements, the core problems still exist. Eye witness accounts are notoriously faulty. Wealthy have advantages over poor. Prejudices form opinions and therefore alter the course of investigations. Incompetence does not exist in a vacuum. And Carlos DeLuna is not the only innocent person society has or will fail to protect."
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Tags : The Wrong Carlos Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution [James Liebman, Shawn Crowley J.D., Andrew Markquart J.D., Lauren Rosenberg J.D., Lauren White J.D., Daniel Zharkovsky J.D.] on . In 1989, Texas executed Carlos DeLuna, a poor Hispanic man with childlike intelligence, for the murder of Wanda Lopez,James Liebman, Shawn Crowley J.D., Andrew Markquart J.D., Lauren Rosenberg J.D., Lauren White J.D., Daniel Zharkovsky J.D.,The Wrong Carlos Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution,Columbia University Press,0231167237,Criminal Law - Sentencing,Murder - General,Capital punishment - Texas,Capital punishment;Texas.,DeLuna, Carlos - Trials, litigation, etc,Judicial error - Texas,Judicial error;Texas.,Trials (Murder) - Texas,Trials (Murder);Texas.,Vargas Laopez, Wanda,Capital punishment,Criminal Law,Criminal Procedure,Judicial error,LAW / Criminal Law / General,LAW / Criminal Law / Sentencing,LAW / Criminal Procedure,Law,Law/Criminal Law - Sentencing,Law/Criminal Procedure,Murder,SOCIAL SCIENCE / Violence in Society,Social Science/Violence in Society,TRUE CRIME / Murder / General,Terrorism law,Texas,Trials (Murder),Trials (Murder) - Texas,Trials (Murder);Texas.,True Crime / Espionage,Vargas Laopez, Wanda,Criminal Procedure,LAW / Criminal Law / General,LAW / Criminal Law / Sentencing,LAW / Criminal Procedure,Law/Criminal Law - Sentencing,Law/Criminal Procedure,SOCIAL SCIENCE / Violence in Society,Social Science/Violence in Society,TRUE CRIME / Murder / General,True Crime / Espionage,Capital punishment,Judicial error,Texas,Trials (Murder),Criminal Law,Murder,Law,Terrorism law
The Wrong Carlos Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution James Liebman Shawn Crowley JD Andrew Markquart JD Lauren Rosenberg JD Lauren White JD Daniel Zharkovsky JD 9780231167239 Books Reviews :
The Wrong Carlos Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution James Liebman Shawn Crowley JD Andrew Markquart JD Lauren Rosenberg JD Lauren White JD Daniel Zharkovsky JD 9780231167239 Books Reviews
- This is a superb, haunting book. In its meticulous research, deep analysis and readable style, it sets the benchmark for future true crime publications.
The authors set out in detail the murder in 1983 of gas store clerk Wanda Lopez, the subsequent police response and investigation, the trial and appeals process and the execution of the man found guilty. Their research includes interviews with many of the participants in the events as well as exhaustive documentary research. Their conclusion that the wrong man was executed for the murder is utterly convincing. They document the disturbingly unprofessional approach by many police, lawyers and judges that led to the terrible error. They say that, between the crime and Carlos DeLuna's execution in 1989, not one police officer, defence lawyer or judge insisted on a conscientious search for Lopez's real killer.
They set the savage crime in the context of the society in which it occurred and bring humanity to the victim and the two Carloses of the title through interviews with people who knew them well.
The powerless, poor Lopez and the child-like executed man find powerful voice in this unforgettable history. - The authors build a credible case that not only did the State of Texas convict the wrong man for a horrible murder, but they later executed him for it.
- I did not go into this book naive to the faults of our 'justice' system. Even so, I was astounded by the absolute failure and incompetence of the so-called professionals at every step of this case.
The authors do an excellent job of laying out the facts of Wanda Lopez's murder, as well as giving us background into the early lives of both Carlos DeLuna and Carlos Hernandez. Much of the text reads like a crime novel. The narrative flows well and the authors avoid the complicated legal jargon as much as possible. When needed, the issues are explained so that the casual reader without a law degree understands.
Details are not spared here. Wanda Lopez's murder was brutal and vicious, and the authors make sure we 'see' that. This story is not for the squeamish. But I do not fault the authors for providing the gory details. In fact, I believe those details were necessary for this case to be fully understood.
There is no doubt that an innocent man was put to death, murdered by our justice system, by us. While that in itself is appalling, the injustices run far deeper. During the time an innocent man was persecuted, the guilty man went along his destructive path unimpeded. His name and reputation were fully known to law enforcement. He flaunted his crimes, bragged about his killings. Innocent people died and lives were forever altered. Had even one person done his/her job correctly along the way, lives could have been spared.
Because this case is old, you might think things have improved. But, despite our scientific advancements, the core problems still exist. Eye witness accounts are notoriously faulty. Wealthy have advantages over poor. Prejudices form opinions and therefore alter the course of investigations. Incompetence does not exist in a vacuum. And Carlos DeLuna is not the only innocent person society has or will fail to protect.
