'Deceit, dishonesty, betrayal': The wrongful conviction that haunted Johnnie Cochran
Briefly

Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, leader of the Black Panther Party in the 1970s, was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to 27 years in prison. His case exemplified systemic corruption within law enforcement and the judicial system, especially concerning political and racial minorities. Defense attorney Johnnie Cochran later regretted dismissing Pratt's fears of being framed. The initial murder case, perceived as straightforward, unraveled to reveal a host of deceit that plagued the investigation. Pratt’s narrative of resistance highlighted his perspective of the police as an occupying army in his community.
Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, a significant figure in the Black Panther Party, was wrongfully convicted in a murder case, exposing corruption and deception in the justice system.
Johnnie Cochran, initially dismissive of Pratt's fears, later termed the case as 'a twilight zone of deceit, dishonesty, betrayal and official corruption'.
The victim's murder case appeared straightforward, yet the investigation reflected systemic issues, leading to a wrongful conviction that haunted Pratt’s attorney for decades.
Pratt saw himself as part of a broader battle against oppression, stating, 'The next time you see me, I might be dead.'
Read at Los Angeles Times
[
|
]