In 1993 eighteen-year-old John Edward Smith was identified by a surviving shooting victim who now admits he lied when he testified. Prosecutors also withheld evidence that another individual was responsible for the shooting. John had an alibi, however, his attorney failed to present three witnesses who could verify his whereabouts at the time of the shooting and failed to obtain phone records to support his alibi. After Deirdre O’Connor of Innocence Matters contacted the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office with this new evidence, the DA re-investigated the case and concluded John was not involved. Tune in to hear John and Deirdre relay the events of John’s conviction and his release after spending 17 years in prison.
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