ANTHONY YARBOUGH was convicted of a triple stabbing in 1992, although not a speck of blood was found on his clothes and the DNA under one victim’s fingernails did not match his. He was found guilty because his petrified 15-year-old co-defendant, Sharrif Wilson, pleaded guilty and testified against him in exchange for a lighter sentence. (He later recanted.) The same DNA was found on the corpse of another stabbed woman while Mr Yarbough and Mr Wilson were in prison. Yet they were not exonerated and freed until this year.More than 95% of convictions in America are reached through plea bargains, in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in return for leniency. Many convictions also depend on the testimony of a “co-operating witness”, who snitches for the same reason. Defenders of the system argue that it is efficient. By avoiding long, costly trials, America can lock up lots of villains. Without plea deals, the courts would be swamped.Alas, the process is open to abuse (see article). Prosecutors...
from The Economist: Leaders http://ift.tt/1vAAHor
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