North Texas
(2008-09-22)
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(Image Source: NIEHS / NIH)
Johnnie Earl Lindsey, 56, was convicted of the 1981 rape of a woman near White Rock Lake. His employer presented time cards and testified that Lindsey was at work at the time of the crime. But a jury convicted him on the basis of the victim's ID from a photo lineup and sentenced him to life in prison. DNA tests proved Lindsey didn't do it. Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins says this case is another wake up call to lawyers, prosecutors, judges and lawmakers.
Watkins: We're in a tragic situation with our criminal justice system and I'm really hoping that other people who are in positions of power will pay attention to it and really put forth an effort to change the system, make it work better.
Watkins says the first problem that needs to be tackled is faulty eyewitness identification. He says he'd also like to see lawmakers create accountability and consequences for prosecutorial misconduct. Meanwhile, District Attorney Watkins is reviewing the 40 Dallas County death penalty cases that are pending to ensure that there weren't any mistakes made.
© Copyright 2009, KERA
