Jailhouse Informants

Texas Death Row Inmate’s Conviction Overturned After 27 Years

A federal appeals court overturned Brittany Marlowe Holberg’s death sentence, a decision stemming from the prosecution’s failure to disclose that their key witness, a paid informant, had recanted her testimony. The 2-1 ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals cited a violation of Holberg’s due process rights under the Brady doctrine, finding the undisclosed information crucial to the jury’s verdict. This decision reverses lower court rulings and sends the case back to the trial court. The appeals court judge highlighted the significant impact of Holberg’s 27 years on death row, emphasizing the ongoing need for improvement within the capital punishment system.

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Hawaii Man Freed After 30 Years: DNA Evidence Exposes Wrongful Conviction

After 30 years of wrongful imprisonment for a 1994 murder, Gordon Cordeiro was released due to newly discovered DNA evidence that excluded him as the source and implicated an unknown individual. A judge vacated his conviction, citing this evidence alongside concerns about unreliable jailhouse informant testimony and ineffective counsel. Although the prosecution plans to appeal and request bail, Cordeiro, who declared his release “Freedom Friday,” expressed gratitude and a desire to see his mother. The Hawaii Innocence Project attributes Cordeiro’s wrongful conviction to police mishandling of the case and the reliance on incentivized informants.

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