1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: On June seventh, twenty eleven, twenty three year old Rondel 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: Moore was driving down South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: with his friend and his brother. Rondell was having car trouble, 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 1: so they pulled into a gas station. While Rondell and 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: another man looked under the hood, a black sedan pulled 6 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: into the lot. A gunman exited the sedan and opened 7 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: fire on Rondel's car. Two men were injured, and Rondel 8 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: Moore was fatally shot. An APB went out for a 9 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: black sedan in the area and a young man in 10 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: a black sedan was arrested. Eventually, that young man said 11 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: that he had dropped off someone nicknamed King Chucky at 12 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: the gas station. Police scoured social media and found Darien 13 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: Harris aka King Chucky, who was subsequently identified from a 14 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: lineup by three witnesses and sentenced to seventy six years. 15 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: But this is a wrongful conviction. Wrongful conviction has always 16 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: given voice to innocent people in prison, and now we're 17 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: expanding that voice to you. Call us at eight three, three, 18 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: two oh seven, four six sixty six and tell us 19 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: how these stories make you feel and what you've done 20 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: to help the cause, even if it's something as simple 21 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: as telling a friend or sharing on social media. We've 22 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: really appreciated hearing from our audience so much so that 23 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: we've included one of the messages at the end of 24 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: this episode. So stick around for that, and if you 25 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: have something to say, we definitely want to hear it, 26 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: and you might just hear yourself in a future episode. 27 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: Call us A three three, two oh seven, four six 28 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: sixty six. Welcome back to Wrongful Conviction today's story. You're 29 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: going to be stunned at one particular aspect of this case. 30 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: That is like it would be more appropriate for a 31 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: movie that was set up as a comedy than something 32 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: so deadly serious as this case. It's my great honor 33 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: to introduce our two guests today. First of all, a 34 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: name fans of the show will recognize Lauren Myers Koff 35 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: Maller of the Exoneration Project in Illinois. Lauren, welcome back 36 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: to the show. 37 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Jason, I'm excited to be back 38 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: with a newly released client. 39 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: Darien Harris. Darien, I'm so sorry for what you've been 40 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: through that brought you to this microphone today, but we're 41 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: honored to have you here as well. 42 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I appreciate you allowed me to be here on 43 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 3: your platform as well. 44 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: So let's go back even before this murder that you 45 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: ended up being charged with. You're only eighteen at the time, 46 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,119 Speaker 1: so there's not that much to even cover. But what 47 00:02:54,280 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: was your life like before this title wave of insanity? 48 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 3: A family, good, supportive family, you know, but the sisters. 49 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 3: I was in high school, I was playing sports, you know. 50 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 3: I was living my life basically and just having a 51 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 3: good life, you know. And no matter what I was 52 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: doing while I was outside of having fun with my friends, 53 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 3: I wasn't doing no crimes or nothing like that. I 54 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 3: was just being a typical teenager and just enjoying my life. 55 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 3: And I was set to graduate from high school the 56 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:24,679 Speaker 3: week before I got locked up, and I got to 57 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 3: set in to Georgia State. 58 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: Sounds like you had a pretty bright future. You were 59 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: into music as well, right. 60 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: You know, at the time, just being creative. We were 61 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 3: just raving about things we come up seeing and things 62 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 3: like homies might be doing something. Was just having fun, 63 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: you know. 64 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: Around that time, Darien appeared in a RapidIO with a 65 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: few other guys, some of them were tied up with gangs, 66 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: and it seems like gang tensions and the hand fisted 67 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: approach of the Cook County police were at play in 68 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: this wrong for conviction. There was a shooting on June seventh, 69 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: twenty eleven, at a gas station on South Stony Island Avenue. 70 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: If you're looking at it on a map, there's a 71 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: McDonald on the corner above it to the north, and 72 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: then Jackson Park across the street to the east. The 73 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: gas station is a rectangular lot with a depot at 74 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: the center, and just before eight thirty that evening, twenty 75 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: three year old Rondel Moore was fatally shot and found 76 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: towards the backside of the depot. 77 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 2: The victim had gone to the gas station with some 78 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: friends and his brother. They were having issues with the 79 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: car and this black BMW comes into the parking lot. 80 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 2: What the police say happened is someone gets out of 81 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 2: the black car, goes over and shoots at the victim, 82 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 2: Rondell Moore, and then there are a few other people 83 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 2: who are shot. There's Marcus Diggs, Quincy Woollard, and then 84 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: the victim's brother, Ronald claimed that he was shot at, 85 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 2: but the video doesn't really bear that out. So Rondell 86 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: is the only one who is killed, and most of 87 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 2: the people said that they didn't see who was shooting. 88 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 1: Both Marcus Diggs and Quincy Wollard could not identify their shooter, 89 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: but Rondell's brother Ronald. The gas station attended Joe Tony 90 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: and two alleged witnesses, Dexter Saffold and Aaron Jones, all 91 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: later made identifications and gave their own versions of events. Luckily, 92 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: there was surveillance footage. 93 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 2: There is surveillance video of the crime. You can't make 94 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: out much about the person committing the crime, you can't 95 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 2: see his face, but you can learn some details that 96 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: really helped to kind of unravel the case and show 97 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 2: what really happened. 98 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: At fourteen seconds after eight twenty seven pm, a black 99 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: sedan pulled into the gas station from the north and 100 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: stopped at the south end, ready to pull back out 101 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: onto South Stony Island Avenue. The shooter got out of 102 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: the car and walked out a frame as he got 103 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 1: close to Rondell's car and shots were fired. All the 104 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 1: witnesses agreed that Rondell ran west toward the back of 105 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: the depot with his friend Marcus Diggs ran north towards 106 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: the McDonald's at eight twenty seven forty seven. The shooter 107 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: also ran to the backside of the depot, then ten 108 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: seconds later ran to the south end of the lot, 109 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: where we're not sure if he got back into the 110 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: black sedan, but either way he fled south. The shooting 111 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: was reported on a few nine one one calls, including 112 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: from an alleged onlooker named Dexter Saffold and an APB 113 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: went out at eight thirty pm for a black sedan 114 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: and the police pulled one over in the area. 115 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: Now, initially, the brother of the victim ran to this 116 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 2: black car that was pulled over nearby, yelling you killed 117 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 2: my brother. You killed my brother. So they take that guy, 118 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,239 Speaker 2: the driver, into custody, Aaron Jones. 119 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: According to Ronald Moore's initial statement, the shooter had dark 120 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 1: skin of mohawk and fled in the black sedan. Aaron 121 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: Jones did not have a mohawk and was alone. Maybe 122 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: this was not the correct black sedan. Ronald later changed 123 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: his statement, saying that he just assumed that the shooter 124 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: got into the black sedan, which left Aaron Jones still 125 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 1: in suspicion of being connected to the shooter and right 126 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: for police coercion. As the investigation continued, the statements from 127 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones, Ronald Moore, and Dexter Saffold all shifted each 128 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 1: time they spoke, leaving only one witness whose story remained consistent. 129 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 2: The gas station attendant. His name was Jody Tony, and 130 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 2: so right away when the police came, they talked to 131 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: him and he said, I saw this happen. I know 132 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 2: who was the shooter because he was in the gas 133 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: station an hour before this happened and he was threatening 134 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 2: me and threatening to blow my head off. So I 135 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: saw him when he did this, and you know, I 136 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: could identify him. 137 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: Jody Tony was later called in to view a lineup. 138 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: In the meantime, investigators followed up with Dexter Saffold, who 139 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: had called nine to one one. 140 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: So he witnesses a shooting, allegedly doesn't stick around back 141 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: at his apartment. They go to talk to him. He's 142 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: what they call an independent witness, so he's not tied 143 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: to any one. It's not like the brother, it's not 144 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 2: like someone who would have, you know, some kind of 145 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: motivation potentially to lie. 146 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: Strangely, Saffold made claims that are not supported by the 147 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: surveillance footage, and his statements changed along the way. 148 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: And changed in important ways, including what the perpetrator was wearing. 149 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: He described the perpetrator's wearing a black shirt, all this stuff. 150 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 2: In the video you can see he's wearing like a 151 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: gray tank top or a light colored tank top. What 152 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: has hair looked like. 153 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: Saffold said that the shooter had his hair and twists, 154 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: meaning braids or dreads, which conflicts with Ronald Moore, who 155 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: said the shooter had worn a mohawk. 156 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: And one of the things about Dexter Saffold that the 157 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: video showed was that he claimed he was eighteen feet away, 158 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: but he was actually eighty feet away, and you can 159 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 2: see that because at some point right after the shooting happens, 160 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: you can see his scooter in the top of one 161 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: of the frames. 162 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: Saffold pulled into frame a full minute after the shooter 163 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 1: left the scene. So it's not clear what he saw, 164 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: if anything, including that the shooter ran right by him 165 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: while chasing the victim behind the station, which was contradicted 166 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 1: by the surveillance footage. And somehow there's room for Saffold 167 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: to become even more absurd, but we'll get to that later. 168 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 1: What's interesting is that even though Ronald Moore and Dexter 169 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: Saffold disagreed on the hair mohawk versus twists and then 170 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: later a low haircut, they agreed on the hype. 171 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 3: A discription of the shoot was fast seven. 172 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: And does that describe you in any way? 173 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 3: No, at the time I was six'. TWO i never 174 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 3: had had a low. Heacut they don't scrab me it. 175 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: Out then the investigation received one more lead. 176 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 2: From the police. REPORTS a couple of people who were 177 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 2: close with the Victim. Roundell his girlfriend and one of 178 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: his friends both said that he had been shot at 179 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 2: a couple days prior by some people from The East 180 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: block set of the Gangster. Disciples so they said that 181 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 2: the guy who had shot At, rundell that it was 182 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: this Guy. 183 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: Dony, coincidentally Both dooney and one of his known, associates 184 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: a guy Nicknamed, slim had appeared in a rap video 185 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,239 Speaker 1: With darien Aka. 186 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 3: Kingchucky you know how did music and shot music, Video 187 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 3: so you KNOW i was around these people or. 188 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: Whatever the brother of the, victim he brings this rap 189 00:09:57,600 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 2: video to the police and said someone said the shooter 190 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 2: was in. Here and then ends up pointing Out. 191 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: Darien it appears this information made its way To Aaron jones. 192 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 2: He's being interrogated for. Murder they get him to say 193 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 2: that it was someone Named slim at. First the next 194 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 2: day that changes to someone Named, chucky. 195 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 3: And then Again Aaron jones originally, said we looked just 196 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 3: like literally like when they showed a music video we used. 197 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 3: TO i, said he, like do it look just LIKE i. 198 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: Don't know if there was some confusion from the outset 199 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 2: as to who it was because they were both in this, 200 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 2: video or it was just Because darien was in a 201 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: video with some guys That rundell was feuding. WITH i don't. 202 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: Know perhaps they're similar looking, faces Had ronald. Confused after, 203 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: all there was this huge height, discrepancy and either, way 204 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: the investigators chose to ignore The doony And slim lead 205 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: to focus singularly On, darien who had no record and 206 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: therefore no photos in the. System so they pulled pictures 207 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: from social media and Got Aaron jones to Identify darien 208 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: as the man who had flagged him down for a 209 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: ride to the gas, station which was enough for the rest. 210 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 3: Warrant they came to a mom crib, like hey were 211 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 3: looking for your. Son he's been implicated in the. Murder 212 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 3: and she called me, like what did you? 213 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 4: Do did you do? 214 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 3: Anything i'm, LIKE i ain't doing. Nothing she was, like, 215 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 3: well let's they want to talk to, Him, like, okay 216 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 3: let's go talk. Home got nothing to, had AND i 217 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 3: got me a lawyer AND i went down there and 218 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 3: they tried to talk to me AND i told HIM 219 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 3: i have none to say BECAUSE i don't know, nothing 220 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 3: and y'all nothing to create something off of what me, 221 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 3: saying so THEREFORE i have nothing to. Say i'm with 222 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 3: my lawyer and. 223 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: You're doing exactly. WELL i think any good lawyer would 224 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: recommend that they do people do more or less what you, 225 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: did which you, Say i'm not talking AND i want a. 226 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 3: Lawyer she came down there and she was, like don't say, 227 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 3: nothing and they ain't want to talk to me BECAUSE 228 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 3: i ain't want to talk to. Them and then she, 229 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 3: left and then they tried to bring me and put 230 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 3: me in a, lineup AND i was, LIKE i don't 231 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 3: want to go into land up without my. Lawyer they was, 232 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 3: like you have to go on the line, up AND 233 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 3: i went in like three full lineups AND i remember 234 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 3: one line, UP i was number. Three they said it 235 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 3: was number five and then never came, up and they 236 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 3: put me in to Suggest. Atlanta i'm In. Atlanta i'm 237 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 3: the only person as young with no facial everybody else 238 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 3: older than me and. Everything so it's it's like if 239 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 3: y'all giving a description of, something look he's right. 240 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: Here so with his own potential murder Charges Aaron jones, 241 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 1: AGAIN i D darien and then they dragged in the 242 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: gas station Attended Jody. 243 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 2: Tony when they brought into the, station they showed him 244 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 2: a picture Of darien and, said you, know this is 245 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 2: the guy we have as a, shooter and he said 246 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 2: that is not the. Shooter they had him look at the. 247 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 2: Lineup he did not pick out dary and he said 248 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 2: the shooter is not in that, lineup and they tried 249 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 2: to get him to Identify dariy and he said he 250 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 2: wouldn't do, it and they tried to pressure him and 251 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: all of, that and he wouldn't do. It he was 252 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 2: never called a, trial so we later got an affidavit 253 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,319 Speaker 2: from him where he identifies who the actual shooter. 254 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,680 Speaker 1: Was but that was many years. Later for, Now Jody 255 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: tony was ignored For Dexter saffold and the victim's, Brother Ronald. 256 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: Moore despite saffolds dubious, accounts the police valued his id 257 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: and Then. Ronald why would the brother of the victim 258 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 1: id someone that doesn't match his own initial description both 259 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: height and. 260 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 3: Hair sometimes in the streets like guys or rather lead 261 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 3: other guys out. 262 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 2: There we've had that in several cases where when we 263 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 2: find out why they implicated the wrong, person it was 264 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 2: because they wanted to take care of it. 265 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 3: Themselves he put me in a situation because you feel, 266 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:30,719 Speaker 3: like ba't me not doing? It they would have let me. 267 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 3: Go but that's not how the system works. Here once 268 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 3: they get any type of, name they don't care to 269 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 3: do their job to make sure the case is. Closed 270 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 3: they just make up create things to get you out the. 271 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 3: Way and that's why so many guys that's wrongfully. Convicted 272 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 3: it's in the conserrated right now because police don't do 273 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 3: their job and the state's attorney don't, care and they get. 274 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 3: Immunity so you think they care if they create a 275 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 3: situation just to make somebody go to jail just to 276 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 3: close their, case they. 277 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: Don't you're listening to wrongful Conviction you can listen to 278 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: this and all The lava For good podcasts one week 279 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: early and ad free by subscribing To lava For Good 280 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: plus On Apple. Podcasts. 281 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 3: YEAH i was in the police station for about two. 282 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 3: Days THEN i was taken To Cook county and. Process 283 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 3: THEN i wasn't prepared for, it but in a WAY 284 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 3: i had a little bit of street smarts because you 285 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 3: know that's WHERE i come. From you, know this is my, 286 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 3: neighborhood is how to grow. Up but the gym's around 287 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 3: about real grown men fighting real murders, Too and they 288 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 3: got knaves and they game banging and gang fights go, 289 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 3: on drug dealing going, on and rapees going. On so 290 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 3: you have to learn to adapt to your surroundings situation 291 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 3: of what's going. On or get, loss you get, cute 292 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 3: you get, rip you get beat, up you get. Extoreded 293 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 3: and that's How jill. 294 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: Is sounds like hell On. Earth and so there you. 295 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: Are what did they set? Bail you never saw the streets. 296 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 3: Again they didnam on bonn and SAID i was a minister, 297 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 3: SOCIETY i shouldn't be let out on the. Streets AND 298 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 3: i never called a case of damn my. LIFE i 299 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 3: bet you've been. ARRESTED i was encountered three years three. 300 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: Years jesus Christ darien was charged with aggravated battery with a, 301 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: firearm attempted, murder and first degree, murder and at the grand, Jury, Jones, 302 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: moore And saffoled reaffirmed their. Identifications but Now ronald said 303 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: that he Saw jones Drop darien off at the gas 304 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: station and then, leave so a new. Inconsistency and then 305 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: he said that he Recognized darien from this rap, video 306 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: even though we know that he hadn't seen that video 307 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: until after the. 308 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:55,359 Speaker 2: Shooting there were a ton of issues with his. Identification 309 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 2: he initially accused someone, else and then he also was 310 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 2: in the backseat of his car and claimed the shooter 311 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 2: pointed the gun at, him but the video shows that 312 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 2: the shooter didn't point the gun at, Him so there 313 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 2: are a ton of issues with him and with his, 314 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: testimony the brothers' statements and dexter saffold, statements those changed 315 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 2: every time they told what. 316 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: Happened this, Time saffold said that he had chased after 317 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: the shooter on his, scooter which is not supported by the. 318 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: Video but, Importantly saffold explained why he wrote a scooter 319 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: that his diabetes had caused a, stroke and we'll get 320 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: to why that's important. Later At darrin's bench trial in 321 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: front Of Judge Nicholas, ford. 322 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 2: This judge is notorious in the, end was run off 323 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 2: the bench In Cook county because of his actions in 324 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 2: a lot of, cases and then he ended up A 325 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 2: trump appointee an immigration judge In california and was run 326 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 2: off the bench there for being, racist, ableist. Etc and 327 00:16:56,360 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 2: so he's currently not a, judge but he has a 328 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 2: long history of problems with his judicial. 329 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: Conduct darien's bench trou began In march of twenty. Fourteen 330 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 1: Again Ronald moore testified about Seeing jones Drop darien off 331 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: and leave that he Recognized darien from the rap, video 332 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: and then he made an in court. Identification next up 333 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 1: Was Aaron, jones but that didn't go as a prosecution had. 334 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 2: Planned he starts testifying and then he immediately recants and he, 335 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 2: says you know, what, man fuck. This none of this. 336 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 2: Happened the police made me say, This they threatened. Me 337 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 2: what would you. DO i had a newborn. Baby darien 338 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 2: was never in my. Car this never. Happened and the judge, 339 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 2: Says i'm holding you in direct contempt just because he's, 340 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 2: recanting maybe because he's. CURSING i don't. Know the state 341 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: had not asked him to Hold Aaron jones in. Contempt 342 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 2: But Aaron jones, says do whatever you need to do to, me, 343 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: MAN i don't care. Anymore this is. Wrong so that 344 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 2: basically ends the state's questioning of. 345 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: Him during the crossing, examination Mister jones, elaborated saying that 346 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: the police had told him what to say or he 347 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: would quote rot in prison for the rest of his. 348 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: Life jes said that the police showed him your photograph 349 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: there and told him to pick you as the, gunman 350 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: of Course. Jones the detective then testifies that he interviewed 351 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: them multiple times and never threatened. Them but what we 352 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 1: expect you. 353 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 3: Have Aaron, Jones they, said the police, Officer Devin jones 354 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 3: can hurst him to say what he. Said you have 355 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,679 Speaker 3: the add witness from the gas, Station Jody. Tunya they 356 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 3: said That Devin jones can hurst him to say what he. 357 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 3: Said you got the victim's. Brother this original statement did 358 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 3: the shooter was fast seven and all, That but he 359 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,479 Speaker 3: changed the statement once he talked to Detective Devin. Jones 360 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 3: so you have to say alficer basically conhurst him into 361 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 3: what to say with this overlooked. 362 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: Though then the state put On Dexter, saffold who appears 363 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: to be a willing participant in story time With Detective Devin. 364 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: Jones but that's even worse than. 365 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 2: That as he's, testifying the defense council asks him about 366 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 2: his vision because he's diabetic and there are often vision 367 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 2: issues with, that and he starts looking at the state 368 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 2: and this is all on the, record it's in the, 369 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 2: transcripts and the defense council says to the, judge can 370 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 2: you order him to? Answer he keeps looking at the 371 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: state and the Witness dexter, SAYS i thought that medical 372 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 2: was supposed to be. Private the judge, said, well usually it, 373 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 2: is but your ability to see is critical to the, 374 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 2: case so you have to. Answer and he says he 375 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 2: doesn't have any vision. Issues and that's where the case really, 376 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: unraveled because on post conviction is discovered that he at 377 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 2: the time was permanently and legally. 378 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 3: Blind at the state's ATTORNEY, knwda this person was legally. 379 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 3: Bland so he, SAID i thought my medical was. Private 380 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 3: how did he know that his medical was? PRIVATE i 381 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 3: mean he told him, that. 382 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: But neither the defense nor the judge knew, that as 383 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: was made abundantly clear By Judge ford's closing statement as 384 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: he Sentenced darien to seventy six, years. 385 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 3: He said aloud that he don't believe nobody. Else he's 386 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 3: based in this fan based on the old. Man that's 387 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:06,719 Speaker 3: your sulf of. Testimony you have an old man that seems, 388 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 3: credible that seems, honest like he, said and he don't 389 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 3: have nothing to rebut what he's. Saying and at the 390 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 3: time the judge didn't know that he was legally. Blind 391 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 3: he went on record to say that he trust this, 392 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 3: person and y'all knew this person was legally. Blind y'all 393 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 3: made him look like an. Asshole and my out day 394 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 3: was twenty eighty. Two and it's like that's a hard 395 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 3: pill to. Swallow it's, Like, Wow i'm really sentenced to 396 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 3: seventy six years for a CRIME i didn't. Commit you 397 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 3: hear so much about, Prison LIKE i was. PARANOID i 398 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 3: was going through so much Because i'm, like, only first of, 399 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 3: all they're supposed to be in. Here the second of, 400 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 3: all these are a liver. Dish is LIKE i understand 401 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 3: That i'm convicted of a crime at the end of damn. 402 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 3: Human this is not how you should treat. Humans they 403 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 3: send me the. PONTIAC i was a pontiac for three. 404 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 3: Months that's what mentally a lot of, people they ain't 405 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 3: never coming. Back that's. 406 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 4: What like. 407 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 3: Gas they cut their stomach up and rip their tests. 408 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 3: Out they stick chicken bones and they dick hole and 409 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 3: try to piss and their stomach blow. Up they be 410 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 3: on the, yard they play with, Feces they put feces 411 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 3: in their mouth shit and they mouth and spit it 412 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 3: on each. Other they go outside with a plastic bag 413 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 3: full of shit and be squirting it back and forth 414 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 3: on each other like it's wow down, there like it 415 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 3: be men having sex on the, yard like it's wow down. 416 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: There it's hard to fathom that this shit goes on 417 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: in this, country but it's going on right. Now it's 418 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: really sickening the whole freaking. Thing SO i don't know 419 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: how the hell you managed to maintain your, sanity But 420 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: i'm glad you. Did and NOW i want to hear 421 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 1: about how the hell you manage to find a way, 422 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: out because that's the, miracle. RIGHT i, mean we never 423 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: hear about the guys who lost their minds in, there 424 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: who gave, Up, oh who did drugs or killed themselves 425 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: or got. Killed, right there's a lot of innocent guys 426 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: that fit that. Category but then there's guys like you 427 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 1: who somehow or other found the strength to reach. 428 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 2: Out. 429 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 3: WELL i had a mentor Of his name Is Samuel, 430 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 3: kareem and he had life in. Jail so coming into 431 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 3: that sale with, him you, KNOW i know he was 432 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 3: real good with the. LOSS i gave him my paperwork 433 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 3: and he started reading and he only read like the 434 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 3: first sixty. Pages was, LIKE i don't have to read 435 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 3: it no. More and say why he, said because that's 436 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 3: your way out of. Jail. Man that man led he can't. 437 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 3: See i'm, like how do you know? That he, said 438 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 3: Because i'm a. Diabetic he landed back the ability to. 439 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 3: See that's why he was. Stuttering i'm, LIKE i don't 440 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 3: know what you're telling me about, whatever AND i blew it. 441 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 3: Off and then AFTERWARDS i asked him, like, hey you 442 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 3: gonna read LIKE i don't have to read no. More 443 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 3: So i'm, like all, right, whatever We i'm gonna let 444 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 3: my lawyer take care of. It, then and that's when 445 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 3: he started giving me cases AND i. DIDN'T i read, 446 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,439 Speaker 3: them BUT i didn't comprehend WHAT i was. Reading so 447 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 3: that's when he went to his, Mentor Michael sullivan told, him, like, 448 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 3: man you got to teach him how to be a man, 449 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,479 Speaker 3: first because he won't comprehend what he reading until you 450 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 3: teach him a different way of. Life so therefore he 451 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 3: doubled back and we start having long, conversations and that's 452 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 3: when he started teaching me how to be a. Man 453 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 3: he started teaching me about, responsibilities, economics, politics financial, stability emotional, 454 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 3: stability mental, stability ways of, life the worth of a, 455 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,479 Speaker 3: woman everything THAT i need to succeed in life as a, 456 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 3: man to grow and also to found my purpose in 457 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,640 Speaker 3: life as, well and that's WHERE i started. At then 458 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 3: that's WHEN i doubled back on the legal, work and 459 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 3: he gave me A Black Au dictionary AND i started 460 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 3: reading legal, work and his way of teaching me was 461 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 3: comparing it to real life, situations and that's HOW i started. 462 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 3: Understanding so he made me order my, discovery and they 463 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,199 Speaker 3: gave him my discovery redacted because they can't give it 464 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 3: to me. Unredacted AND i sat there AND i went 465 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 3: through every piece of paperwork And that's WHEN i found 466 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 3: the gas station, Attendant Jody. TONY i found a lot 467 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 3: of more, things and that's WHEN i started writing a 468 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 3: lot of. Lawyers And Jody garvey. 469 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 2: Wrote me back AND i Believe, darien you told you 470 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:08,679 Speaker 2: were A pellet. Lawyer What samuel said That Dexter staffold was. 471 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 3: Blind my new, Lawyer Jody, garvey went To Deshah staffold and, 472 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 3: say pointed out right now In, atlanta up with the private. 473 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 3: Vestigat he, SAID i CAN'T i need a special apparatus 474 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 3: that magnifies the image on the. Paper that means that 475 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 3: in the police station they had to give you a special, 476 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 3: apparatus or they circled and told you what to. Say at, 477 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 3: trial you, know they give you the paper and they 478 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 3: say do you recognize his? Paper he post a look 479 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 3: at the paper and say, yes is that your? Signature? 480 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 3: Yes is that what you? Wrote repeat what you? Wrote 481 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 3: which number pigeons to circle? Out how did he do 482 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 3: all that in court with no special? Apparatus that shows 483 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 3: you that he was conhearsed in the back on what to. 484 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: Say but Despite Dexter saffold's blindness as well As Jody, 485 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: Tony darien's conviction was affirmed on. Appeal Then darien Met 486 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: lauren around twenty, nineteen who was able to find more new, 487 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: evidence starting With Dexter saffold's litigation. 488 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 2: History Dexter staffold had filed so many discrimination lawsuits basically 489 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 2: alleging that different, organizations, colleges, whatever had discriminated against him 490 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 2: because of being. Blind so he had attached to these 491 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 2: lawsuits his own vision, records medical records related to his 492 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 2: blindness over the. SPAN i mean he was filing these 493 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 2: starting back in like two thousand and two till twenty 494 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 2: twenty one maybe, after and attaching all this stuff to 495 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 2: prove he was. Blind so that's where we got the 496 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 2: evidence that he was. Blind it was from his own. 497 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 1: Filings In february twenty twenty, Two lauren And Jody garvey 498 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: filed a post conviction petition to Vacate darien's, conviction and 499 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:44,719 Speaker 1: they attached a report from an ophthalmologist and professor Doctor Vina, 500 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: raigi who determined That saffold had advanced glaucoma by twenty 501 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: eleven and had less than five degrees of central vision 502 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: in both eyes and in addition to his legal, blindness 503 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: the time of day that this shooting occurred Made saffold 504 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 1: even less. 505 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 2: Reliable Jody garby had already gotten Some affi davids from 506 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 2: an investigator had talked To Dexter, saffold and he told 507 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 2: the investigator that he had told the prosecution about his vision. 508 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: Issues so it appears the prosecution knowingly put on a blind, 509 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: eyewitness and then when he purjured himself about his ability to, 510 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:25,479 Speaker 1: see they did not bother to correct the. Record lauren 511 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 1: also sought the help of doctor And Nancy. 512 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 2: Franklin an eyewitness, expert to show all of the. Issues 513 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 2: any sort of police coergion what made any sort of 514 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:39,159 Speaker 2: identification in this case unreliable from the get, go regardless of, 515 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 2: blindness although that obviously played a big. Role, Also Jody 516 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 2: garby had already gotten some halfi davids From darien's girlfriend 517 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,360 Speaker 2: at the, time who was his alibi, witness confirming that 518 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 2: he was at home watching THE nba, Finals affi davits 519 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 2: From Jody, tony LIKE i, said he was confirming that 520 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 2: it Wasn't, darien and he identified the actual. 521 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:02,880 Speaker 1: Shooter, tony the gas station, attendant the only eyewitness whose 522 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: statements didn't shift with the police narrative said that the 523 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: shooter had come into the station before the shooting and threatened, 524 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: him and he identified him from a. Photo it was 525 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: a young man Named Devonte pippen Aka, slim who not 526 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: only appeared in the rap video but was also later 527 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 1: a victim of gang violence in twenty. 528 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 2: Fourteen so we had all this, evidence it was already 529 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 2: such a thin. Case no physical evidence ever Tied darien 530 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 2: to the. Crime the description just didn't even. Match the 531 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 2: judge didn't hear From Jody, tony who had always said 532 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 2: he could see it and he knew who did, it 533 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 2: and it always said it Wasn't. Darien so all of 534 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,360 Speaker 2: this just really put it over the. Edge so this 535 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 2: Is december, fifth twenty twenty. Three we go to court 536 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 2: and they agree to Vkate darien's conviction based on all 537 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 2: the evidence presented in the post conviction. Petition but they're 538 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 2: going to retry him and they want him held without bond. 539 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 2: Again what they were going to retry him with is beyond. 540 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,679 Speaker 2: ME i don't know what their plan. Was they never 541 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 2: told me if they were planning to call the blind 542 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 2: eyewitness again or what the plan was. There but that's 543 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 2: When jason that's when you got. 544 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: Involved because, WELL i feel very grateful THAT i was 545 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:16,719 Speaker 1: in the right place at the right, time and THAT i, 546 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: have you, know a real lasting friendship With Kim, fox 547 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: who's been doing her level best against powerful forces that 548 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: are lined against. Her and you, know her job is no, 549 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 1: picnic trust, me but you, know it happens that she's 550 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 1: got such a big, office so many you, know adas 551 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 1: and others working for, her that sometimes one of them 552 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: just you, know probably many of them don't share her 553 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: vision or her. Convictions for lack of a better. Word of, 554 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: course When kim heard about this, case she did the right. 555 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 2: THING i get a, CALL i, think the very next 556 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: day saying that they are not going to move forward 557 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 2: with the, case and they were very apologetic about. It 558 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 2: we were already doing up in Court december, nineteenth twenty twenty, 559 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 2: three to argue some bond. 560 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 3: Issues WHEN i came to, court NOW i was thinking 561 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 3: it's a regular court. Day lauren came up like so 562 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 3: they had the good, news AND i was, like, yeah 563 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 3: what they gonna give me a bond or. Something she was, like, 564 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 3: No they're gonna throw everything. Else AND i was, like 565 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 3: LIKE i was, Shocked LIKE i ain't even believe, it 566 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 3: AND i was just, like, WOW i really didn't feel 567 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 3: real at. 568 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 2: All you, Know darien has been out just a few 569 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 2: months now and is you, know trying to rebuild his 570 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 2: life and put everything back together after so many years. 571 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 2: Gone and you, Know i'm he can talk about. IT i, 572 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 2: mean it's a struggle for all of our clients to do. 573 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 2: That so we're just trying to do what we can 574 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,680 Speaker 2: to help him with. That we filed for a certificate of, 575 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 2: innocence so we'll keep you posted on that on our. 576 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 2: End but you, know he's working through. 577 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 3: Everything when you've been going so, long you've been removed from, 578 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 3: society you've been moved from the world that you once. 579 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 3: Knew me coming home, Personally i'm in a whole new 580 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 3: world for me to be. Free it don't feel Like 581 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 3: i'm free because mentally it's hard for me to understand 582 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,239 Speaker 3: and adapt to what's going. On BECAUSE i got out 583 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 3: of jail with, nothing AND i had slight a little small, donations, 584 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 3: yeah from the company That lauren put me into it 585 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 3: where they gave me two thousand dollars and things like. 586 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 3: That you, know that's, cool that's, Helpful but WHERE i 587 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 3: was at in maximum. PENITENTIARIES i couldn't take no trades for, electrician, 588 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 3: plumbing ac, construction. Nothing so what DO i come home. 589 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 3: WITH i can't come home with no, degrees no school 590 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 3: out of. Nothing so the only things THAT i know 591 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 3: is the things THAT i took the time after studying those. 592 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 3: Books that's the only things THAT i. Know but it 593 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 3: takes money to make that type of. Money and they 594 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 3: put us in these situations hoping that we do. Reoffend 595 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 3: that's why they put us out here like. This why 596 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 3: not put us out and, say, hey we got jobs 597 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 3: waiting on, y'all good, jobs not no twelve thirteen dollars 598 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 3: an hour, job because as a grown, man especially with, 599 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 3: kids what is that going to? Pay we need real, 600 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 3: jobs we need real, help and we don't have that 601 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 3: to preaching. 602 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: Today i'll tell you that, much and and we appreciate. 603 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: It we need to hear this. Stuff and what's the name? 604 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 1: Again this is a real hero in this. Case another 605 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 1: one is your mentor what was his name? 606 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 3: Again his name Is Samuel kareem KA R I. M 607 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 3: he's currently located In Stateville Correctional. Center and, honestly that's 608 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 3: the guy that changed me that's the guy That i'm 609 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 3: fighting to get out of jail because he's the smartest 610 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 3: MAN i ever. Met he has a training out of 611 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 3: mask all day every, day he read his, books study case. 612 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 3: Law he grows man so. Much just the type of 613 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 3: man that we need out here in these communities to 614 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 3: start changing, things to start creating opportunities not only for, 615 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 3: us but for everybody as a, whole where we come 616 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 3: together as. One that's what we lack coming. Up we 617 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 3: lack role, models we lack positive man in our life 618 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 3: and things like. 619 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 1: That darren asked that we win in competition for clemency 620 00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: for his, Mentor Samuel, Kareem so we're going to have 621 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: that length in the episode. Description and in addition to his, 622 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: Advocacy darien is making, music also starting a nonprofit and 623 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 1: launching a, Podcast justice Is. 624 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,240 Speaker 3: Blind it's a podcast for me to give a platform 625 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 3: to everybody that's incoscerated all over the world to call 626 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 3: in and tell their, story rather they was wrongfully, convicted 627 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 3: or the trauma that they're going through a jail all 628 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 3: the way the police treating, them or they just want 629 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 3: to be heard because in, jail with our silence and 630 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 3: don't nobody listen to. Us don't nobody give us a. 631 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 3: Chance everybody look at us as, criminals but everybody in 632 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 3: jail not bad. People people could. CHANGE a sin is a, 633 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 3: sining a crime is a. Crime people may have committed 634 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 3: their crimes and people may have done their, things but 635 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 3: at the end of the, day they're, human they make. 636 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 3: Mistakes give them a chance to write they. Wrong so 637 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 3: that's When i'm creating this platform for, them guys in 638 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 3: jail to speak out and to have a. Voice and 639 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 3: Also i'm starting um For Perfect Call surviving a struggle 640 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 3: for guys that's incarcerated as. Well the partner or with 641 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 3: the law firm and everybody that's wrongfully CONVICTED i had 642 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 3: their case, over would look to have their case tooking 643 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 3: so they can have legal. Support and Also i'm going 644 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 3: to create programs link up with people to have, construction, electrician, 645 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 3: plumbing everything of that, nature so when guys get out 646 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 3: of jail they have a good job to come home. 647 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 3: Too and trying to find a way to find them 648 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 3: like affordable has look at like a house of complex 649 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,480 Speaker 3: or something for a guys to state that don't have 650 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 3: nowhere to. Go everything is currently in the making right 651 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,719 Speaker 3: now should be done within the next few, months but 652 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 3: you can follow me On instagram at k at n 653 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:37,080 Speaker 3: g c ch U Cky underscore FR e D A 654 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 3: r E A. L AND i have a go fundme 655 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 3: which is Called justice Is, blind or you just put 656 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 3: In Dariel harriy's and support me and my calls to 657 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:50,240 Speaker 3: just help me out with living expenses and for the 658 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 3: non for. 659 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: Profit, well we're gonna link Your instagram and the GoFundMe as, 660 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 1: well and with that we're gonna go to my favorite 661 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: part of the show where first of, ALL i think 662 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 1: both of, You lauren And, darien you're both heroes to 663 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 1: me and so many other, people and SO i appreciate 664 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 1: you joining us here. Today and Now i'm just going 665 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,239 Speaker 1: to kick back in my chair with my microphone off 666 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:14,399 Speaker 1: and just listen to anything else you feel is left 667 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: to be. Said So, lauren tradition holes that you go, 668 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 1: first And darien you take us off into the. 669 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 2: SUNSET i just hope that people listen to this episode 670 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 2: and they take away from the fact that this kind 671 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:29,399 Speaker 2: of thing can really happen to. Anyone darien had never 672 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 2: committed a, Crime he had never been, arrested he was 673 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 2: a good. Kid the only thing was where he. LIVED i, 674 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,280 Speaker 2: mean he got picked up just by virtue of living 675 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 2: in a certain, neighborhood being a certain, color and the 676 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:45,799 Speaker 2: evidence was made to fit. Him and he had a 677 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:48,279 Speaker 2: really bright future in front of him that was stolen from, 678 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:51,759 Speaker 2: him and he lost out on so much time that 679 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:54,400 Speaker 2: he is never going to get back in very very formative. 680 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 2: Years we are actually very lucky in his, case which 681 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:00,839 Speaker 2: is crazy to say that we were able to get 682 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 2: him out when he can still build a life and 683 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:06,919 Speaker 2: build a. Family And darien WANTS i think last count 684 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,520 Speaker 2: sixteen kids. Crazy he wants a lot of. Children we'll 685 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 2: see after he has one how he feels about. That 686 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:15,959 Speaker 2: but he'll be a wonderful. Dad he has so many 687 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 2: things he wants to do to change the, world and 688 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 2: he's already starting to do. It And i'm just so 689 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 2: proud to know him and i can't wait to see 690 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:26,600 Speaker 2: all the things that he's going to. Accomplish someone with 691 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 2: the kind of light That darien, has they can't keep 692 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:31,799 Speaker 2: that down and they can't snuff it. Out So i'm 693 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 2: just so grateful to be here today with him and 694 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 2: to be a witness to his. 695 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 3: LIFE i just want to say THAT i Appreciate lauren 696 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 3: the most because she stepped in and did everything and 697 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 3: just still on the business for. Real And Jody, garf 698 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 3: he helped me out a lot as. Well AND i 699 00:35:48,719 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 3: just want to let everybody know that everything That i'm 700 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 3: doing to help free to jails and those people that's 701 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 3: growfully and, convicted or even the people that is serving 702 00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,840 Speaker 3: a town doing this for the black families and the 703 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 3: mothers that have to go through this because they are 704 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 3: incarcerated as. Well you, know they're not the only people that's. 705 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 3: Concerated AND i understand what it means to be in 706 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:11,320 Speaker 3: jail and be. Stereotypes so IF i can get out 707 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:13,839 Speaker 3: and show them that all black people that come from 708 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:16,439 Speaker 3: jail not this and not THAT i want to become 709 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 3: that stereotype to show them like we not that type of. 710 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:22,120 Speaker 3: People like it's people that can actually. Change it's people 711 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:23,759 Speaker 3: that can come from WHERE i come from and make 712 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:27,239 Speaker 3: better themselves as well and be not all the. Same you, 713 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:29,720 Speaker 3: know it's actually good people still left in this. World 714 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 3: i'm just looking to help. EVERYBODY i know my purpose 715 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:34,520 Speaker 3: in life is to help, People So i'm gonna follow 716 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:37,960 Speaker 3: my purpose and chase my. Dreams i'm gonna continue to 717 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 3: help everybody and do EVERYTHING i gotta do and make 718 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:43,839 Speaker 3: a positive. Change i'm just gonna continue to stick to doing. 719 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 1: Me thank you for listening to ron For. Conviction you 720 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 1: can listen to this and all The lava For good 721 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,759 Speaker 1: podcasts one week early by subscribing To lava For Good 722 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:00,920 Speaker 1: plus On Apple. PODCASTS i want to thank our production, 723 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,920 Speaker 1: Team Connor hall And Kathleen, fink as well as my 724 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:07,720 Speaker 1: fellow executive Producers Jeff, Kempler Kevin, wartis And Jeff. Cliburn 725 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,160 Speaker 1: the music in this production was supplied by three TIME 726 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 1: oscar nominated Composer Jay. Ralph be sure to follow us 727 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:16,400 Speaker 1: across all social media platforms At lava For good and 728 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 1: At Wrongful. Conviction you can also follow me On instagram 729 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 1: At It's Jason. Flamm Wrongful conviction is a production Of 730 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:26,479 Speaker 1: lava For Good podcasts and association With Signal Company number. 731 00:37:26,480 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 4: One. Hi my name Is Amanda. Graham i've written down 732 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,360 Speaker 4: WHAT i want to say SO i don't start. Rambling 733 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:41,839 Speaker 4: BUT i began listening To Wrongful conviction about exactly eight year. 734 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:44,240 Speaker 4: AGO i was on a hunt for a new podcast 735 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:46,440 Speaker 4: to binge on AND i became. HOOKED i was so 736 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,799 Speaker 4: shocked by these. Stories the story that changed my, life, 737 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:53,719 Speaker 4: though was episode three forty eight With Zaban. Johnson at 738 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:56,280 Speaker 4: this same time that this, aired an old high school 739 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,360 Speaker 4: friend of mine was on her second trial for the 740 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:00,920 Speaker 4: death of an infant in her. Care from the DAY 741 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:03,360 Speaker 4: i heard she was, ARRESTED i knew in my guts 742 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:05,840 Speaker 4: no way she would hurt a, baby AND i believed 743 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:09,960 Speaker 4: there had to be some other. Explanation so suddenly things 744 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:13,759 Speaker 4: began making sense to. Me i'm actually AN, rn and 745 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 4: SO i questioned EVERYTHING i had been taught ABOUT sbs 746 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 4: and began plummeting into. RESEARCH i spent hours and hours and. 747 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:25,400 Speaker 4: HOURS i made a binder with highlighted, points case files 748 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:29,160 Speaker 4: with similar, details a list of ways convictions were. OVERTURNED 749 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:32,279 Speaker 4: i listened to every podcast about every CASE i could. 750 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:35,440 Speaker 4: FIND i passed on WHAT i had learned To, ali the, 751 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:37,920 Speaker 4: defendant but it was too. Late the trial had already. 752 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 4: Began she was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced 753 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:44,840 Speaker 4: to fifty years in. Prison there is so much that 754 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 4: is wrong in this. Case this sparked a fire in. 755 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 4: ME i closed and sold my. BUSINESS i got a 756 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:54,760 Speaker 4: certificate In legal Nurse consulting from The university Of. GEORGIA 757 00:38:54,880 --> 00:38:57,600 Speaker 4: i provided her new attorney with data and case. Information 758 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 4: i've spoken out publicly in her, defense And i'm hoping 759 00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:04,920 Speaker 4: in some way to be able to help other people 760 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:07,560 Speaker 4: who have been wrongfully convicted of murder by shaking baby 761 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:11,200 Speaker 4: syndrome and change the way these cases are. Handled your 762 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:15,880 Speaker 4: podcasting connection to this case has truly changed my. Life