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Comments

• [1] Terri Hamel from Los Angeles County July 09, 2008 - 08:33PM

  As a former teacher of twenty years, with a reputation for relentlessly following up on kids who were trying to get away with doing wrong, it took me about a minute to conclude that Marty Tankleff did not fit that kind of profile. The American Justice documentary left me feeling encouraged and hopeful that law enforcement officials will be increasingly held accountable for using wrongful tactics to elicit so-called confessions, leaving the real perpetrators at large, in order to wrap up a case. G-d bless you, Marty Tankleff, and may you prosper in what is going to be a wonderful and meaningful career.

  Terri Hamel

  
  
• [2] Terri Hamel from Los Angeles County July 09, 2008 - 08:34PM

  "Had my interrogation been recorded, I would not have served 6,338 days in prison," Marty said, adding, "There's no downside to recording. The truth gets exposed. ... Does 17 years of my life cost as much as it does to record interrogations? How many other men have to serve time in prison because somebody says it costs too much? I can record this entire event on my cell phone. It's ridiculous."

  Amen to that!

  Terri

  
  
• [3] David! from NYC July 11, 2008 - 11:47AM

  Back in 2005 or '06, in NC, two wrongfully convicted people were finally released from prison. Alan Gell was wrongfully convicted for homicide, while Darryl Hunt was wrongfully convicted for rape. What was noteable to me was that, in each case, the State of NC cut corners to get the conviction. In Gell's case, the state knowingly failed to turn over exculpatory (sp?) evidence to the defense. In Hunt's case, the only evidence was circumstantial. DNA evidence later cleared Hunt.

  Here's the rub: even after Hunt was cleared by DNA and Gell was cleared by the release of the exculpatory, both remained in detention until public pressure caused judges to review the cases and order the release.

  I think of Chaucer's "Priest's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales: "If gold shall rust, what will iron do?"

  The public is not served by over-zealous prosecutors.

  
  
• [4] Alice from NYC July 11, 2008 - 12:15PM

  What a sad story! Why did the prosecuters have it in for this kid? I don't get it. Were they scared that otherwise they would have no one to charge with the case?

  
  
• [5] Zak from Brooklyn, NY July 11, 2008 - 12:16PM

  Such cases as these are an absolute travesty of American justice. I grew up in the Chicago area and I will never forget the case of Jeanine Nicarico and the eventual and merciful release of Rolando Cruz. You can read more about that case here, through Barry Sheck's Innocence Project web site: http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/77.php

  Marty, thank goodness you got your life back. I am so sorry you had to spend 17 years in prison for a crime you did not commit. As if losing your parents as a 17 year old weren't hard enough...

  
  
• [6] Zak from Brooklyn, NY July 11, 2008 - 12:19PM

  Additionally, with interrogation and intimidation techniques, this case proves why the United States should once and for all ban the death penalty. It's bad enough that this happens at Gitmo, but to have it happen in Suffolk County?

  
  
• [7] Michelle from SoHo July 11, 2008 - 12:24PM

  I am the same age as Marty and grew up close by in Setauket. I could never imagine that such a crime could be committed in our protected communities, let alone by someone my own age. I have always felt that he was wrongly imprisoned. I would guess that he has no plans to return to Port Jeff, where will he live now? How do you rebuild a life after this?

  
  
• [8] al oof from brooklyn July 11, 2008 - 12:40PM

  you should mention the central park jogger case. all of those kids served time for a crime they did not commit. it was in the news for years when the attack happened, but their exoneration was basically a footnote on the news.

  
  
• [9] speedy from yorkville July 11, 2008 - 12:40PM

  free the west memphis three. check out:

  www.wm3.org

  an outrageous miscarriage of american justice.

  
  
• [10] Amy from Manhattan July 11, 2008 - 12:50PM

  Please add a link to The Innocence Project & any info about how people can help free innocent people serving time &/or facing the death penalty on false convictions. Thank God Marty Tankleff was finally freed after spending 1/2 his life in prison, but if there are 10s-100s of thousands of others, as Bruce Barket says, it's gonna take a lot of work & money to help them.

  
  
• [11] adfs July 11, 2008 - 08:59PM

  fascinating

  
  
• [12] BobbyO from Riverhead, NY July 12, 2008 - 10:35AM

  There are so many sad aspects to Marty Tankleff's case that it is hard to say which is the worst. I will say that since there is sufficient information to assist in identifying who really murdered Marty's parents, the decision by AG Cuomo not to pursue them is also a tragedy! It's not like the unknown guy who OJ Simpson is still trying to identify who really murdered his ex-wife wife Nicole and her boyfriend!

  
  
• [13] Christina from Sweden July 22, 2008 - 04:09PM

  I cry for Marty Tankleff and wish him a good life after............