The Unreliability of Eyewitness
Testimony
The Case of Uriah Courtney
If you've never heard of Uriah
Courtney, his story will likely shock you. At 25 years old, California native, Uriah
Courtney, was charged with rape, a heinous crime that destroys the lives of its
victims. Even more disturbing, he had allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl. A
jury convicted him, and the judge sent him to prison for life. At just 26 years
old, Uriah was sure to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The only problem? Uriah was
innocent.
In a world where scientific
advances seem to happen every day, it is difficult to believe that a person
could be sent to jail for life for a crime he didn't commit.
Despite what you see on
television, where evidence gathering techniques are portrayed as highly
scientific and nearly irrefutable, modern-day convictions rely primarily on
eyewitness testimony. In fact, unreliable eyewitness testimony is the leading
cause of wrongful convictions. According to the national Innocence Project,
eyewitness misidentification was a factor in 73 percent of cases overturned by
DNA evidence.
That's what happened to Uriah
Courtney. With statistics like that, it could happen to anyone.
The Problem with Eyewitness Testimony
In 2013, Uriah Courtney was
exonerated of the crime of rape. The California Innocence Project, which is
affiliated with a network of organizations devoted to overturning wrongful
convictions, was instrumental in obtaining his release. When Uriah was arrested
in 2004, DNA techniques were not as advanced as those used in subsequent years.
The Innocence Project worked with the San Diego District Attorney's Office to
test the victim's clothing for additional DNA samples. The results returned a
positive match for a man living just three miles from where the victim was
assaulted.
When the victim examined Uriah
in a lineup immediately after the crime had occurred, she stated she was 80
percent positive Uriah was her assailant. At trial, however, she declared she
was 100 percent certain of her identification. Although she never explained the
20 percent jump in certainty, the jury convicted an innocent man.
Our criminal justice system
places a great deal of importance on eyewitness testimony. First-person
observers are generally perceived as credible, competent witnesses. But the
human mind is not a recording device like a camera or video-recorder, and it is
heavily influenced by stress, suggestion, and time. Memory decay, adrenaline,
and stress all compromise a person's ability to recall events with reliable
clarity. In Uriah's case, the victim relied on her recollection of her
attacker's vehicle – which matched one owned by Uriah's stepfather – to identify
Uriah in a lineup.
Ultimately, Uriah Courtney
walked away a free man, but not until he had spent eight years in prison for a
crime he didn't commit.
California Criminal Defense
The conviction and exoneration
of Uriah Courtney demonstrates the fundamental tenant of our criminal justice
system: defendants are innocent until proven guilty – with an emphasis on
"proven." If you have been accused of a crime, you need experienced
defense from a certified criminal law specialist. Call my office today at
213-623-8120 to find out how I can help you.
This website has been prepared by
David J.P. Kaloyanides, APLC for informational purposes only and does not, and
is not intended to, constitute legal advice. The information is not provided in
the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute
for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
