The Central Park five. Gross miscarriage of justice. Never should have registered convictions. NEVER.

 

The Central Park jogger case(sometimes termed the Central Park Five case, and later the Exonerated Five case) was a criminal case concerning the assault and rape of Trisha Meili, a woman in Central Park in Manhattan, New York, on April 19, 1989.^[1][2] On the night of the attack, dozens of teenagers had entered the park, and there were reports of muggings and physical assaults.^[2]

Six teenagers were indicted in relation to the Meili assault. Charges against one, Steven Lopez, were dropped after Lopez pleaded guilty to a different assault. The remaining five—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise (known as the Central Park Five, later the Exonerated Five)—were convicted of the charged offenses and served sentences ranging from seven to thirteen years.^[3]

More than enough evidence confirming that confessions were coerced/beaten out of the victimized five teenagers. They had simply been out after midnight in the Park for a fun jog and gathering with the guys. No semen DNA incriminates. Even the location of the rape of the unfortunate female jogger was uncertain.

Jury handed down a politically generated teen denunciation for the fears of the community. The five were patsies. They should have walked free.

But didn’t. I was stunned watching the program. Have not seen the second part of the story yet. A reversal of convictions? One hopes.