Fernando Bermudez exonerated--informant found to have lied
Cleared of murder charges after serving 18 years, Fernando Bermudez was freed on Friday. See NYT story here and my
previous post. Four witnesses recanted their testimony, stating that they had been pressured by the government into identifying Mr. Bermudez as the shooter. The main witness, Efraim Lopez, testified falsely under a cooperation agreement guaranteeing that he would not be charged with any crimes, even though he was centrally involved in the shooting. Judge Cataldo concluded that the government either knew or should have known Lopez was lying. Judge Cataldo's opinion is available here. Although the government concedes that its main witness Lopez perjured himself at trial, it has announced that it intends to appeal.
Comments
The Government has decided not to appeal Judge Cataldo decision as of 2-4-10 in the case of Fernando Bermudez. What can the public do to help Fernando Bermudez and family?
It is appalling and disgusting that these criminally negligent prosecutors can get away with not being disbarred for bringing this case to this level. They KNEW that the man was innocent but to protect their image...their ego's...their political prospects...they simply do not care about innocence and want this poor man to die in prison knowing he is not guilty.
They have NO shame..what they propose is so outrageous, co obviously legally deficient, that all they can do is put on a mask as if human and carry out the charade.
18 years sitting in hell, all because bad prosecutors and cops wanted to close a case as fast as possible. Sickening, totally sickening...the decent person wants justice, and that means those involved in the prosecution should be charged either criminally or at least face the Bar and explain how they could do the things they did....totally unprofessional conduct that caused a man to lose most of his life....and they, even after admitting all there case was false, STILL want the man behind bars simply so they won't face more embarrassment for their sins!! Talk about gaul!!