"Prosecutors set their sights on Sims, purely based on Graves' brother-in-law-to-be telling the New York Police Department that he'd heard that Sims was the guy who shot Mr. Chen. At the 1999 trial, the jury heard testimony from Graves, who said Sims shot Chen, and Shalema Rodriguez, 24, who said she saw the taller man (Sims) run out of the restaurant with a gun."
"Very early on in this investigation, [prosecutors] set their sights on Anthony Sims as their suspect. They focused only on any evidence they could possibly find that would somehow support that theory, and chose to ignore all the evidence that wouldn't support it."
"Sims should've never been locked up, his attorneys argue, pointing to new evidence they say shows prosecutors were looking for a way to point their finger at Sims and a key witness who they believe actually committed the crime lied on the stand."
Anthony Sims was convicted in 1999 for the murder of restaurant worker Li Run Chen in Brooklyn and spent 27 years in prison before an appeals court reversed his conviction. Prosecutors built their case primarily on hearsay from Graves' brother-in-law and testimony from Julius Graves and witness Shalema Rodriguez, who claimed Sims shot Chen. Sims' legal team argues prosecutors focused exclusively on evidence supporting their predetermined theory while ignoring exculpatory evidence. The defense contends Graves, not Sims, actually committed the crime and that Rodriguez lied under oath. The Brooklyn District Attorney's office is reviewing whether to retry the case.
#wrongful-conviction #prosecutorial-misconduct #criminal-justice-reform #false-testimony #exoneration
Read at www.amny.com
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