Eye Witness Testimony

1) What happened in the video? (5 points)

In July 1984, Jennifer Thompson was attacked and raped in Burlington, North Carolina. Her apartment lights were broken out, and phone lines were cut. The rapist then appeared in her bedroom with a knife to her throat. Jennifer said "take everything", however money wasn't on the agenda.

During the attack, Jennifer made it a point to remember anything, and everything about her rapist's facial features, scars, and tattoos. Jennifer wanted to help the police put her rapist behind bars with her eye-witness testimony if she survived. After her attack, she was presented with a photo line-up by detective David Gauldin. During the session, she was able to pick her attacker Ronald Cotton.

A few days later, David presented her with a physical line-up of the criminals. She again picked Cotton as her attacker. Jennifer picked the same person on both line-ups, which would turn out to be a false memory. During trial Cotton was accused after just 40 min of deliberation and found guilty. Jennifer's testimony was successful in the courtroom simply by being an eyewitness.

While in prison, Cotton asked for re-trials, and was later granted a re-trial. Another convicted rapist that was in prison was forced to go as well. Bobby Poole, was convicted for the same crime, he looked very similar and had almost identical features to Cotton. However, Jennifer was absolutely positive that she picked the right man based on her memory. Jennifer had zero feelings, and thoughts towards Poole. She assured that it was indeed Cotton. As a result, Cotton was found guilty again.

Finally, 7 seven years later a DNA test was done. DNA results showed that Ronald Cotton was indeed innocent of the rape of Jennifer Thompson. Poole was the actual perpetrator the whole time. Jennifer's testimony and memory lapse caused a innocent man to lose 11 years of his life, and also effected other innocent people that were raped by Poole during this period.

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