UPDATE
NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS WHEN FAVORABLE EVIDENCE IS WITHHELD
IN 1999, TYSHEEM CROCKER WAS CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN YORK, PA-DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS NEVER ACCUSED OF KILLING ANYONE. HIS CONVICTION HINGED ENTIRELY ON TWO DEEPLY FLAWED, UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS:
THAT TYSHEEM ATTENDED A MEETING AT A SUPER 8 MOTEL WHERE A PLOT TO COMMIT MURDER WAS ALLEGEDLY DISCUSSED.
THAT HE HELD A GUN TO ANOTHER YOUNG MAN'S HEAD.
BOTH CLAIMS CAME FROM A SINGLE, INCENTIVIZED WITNESS-WHO HAS SINCE RECANTED HIS ENTIRE TRIAL TESTIMONY.
EVEN MORE TROUBLING? EVIDENCE THAT COULD HAVE CLEARED TY-SHEEM FROM THE BEGINNING WAS WITHHELD FROM THE JURY. A MOTEL CLERK, INTERVIEWED BEFORE TRIAL, CONTRADICTED THE PROSECUTION'S NARRATIVE AND CONFIRMED THAT NO SUCH MEETING EVER TOOK PLACE. HER STATEMENTS WERE NEVER SHARED WITH THE DE-FENSE. TODAY, WE KNOW THAT TYSHEEM WAS PEACEFULLY CONVERSING WITH THE MAN HE WAS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO SHOOT-NOT THREATENING HIM.
NOW, 28 YEARS LATER, TYSHEEM CONTINUES TO SERVE A LIFE SENTENCE FOR A CRIME HE DIDN'T COMMIT.
BUT THE TRUTH IS FINALLY RISING TO THE SURFACE.
BACKED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL WISEMAN OF WISEMAN, SCHWARTZ & CIOCHCI, TYSHEEM'S LEGAL TEAM HAS FILED A POWERFUL NEW MOTION FOR A RETRI-AL-ARMED WITH UNDENIABLE, EXONERATING EVIDENCE.
JUSTICE DELAYED IS NOT JUSTICE DENIED-BUT THE TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOW..