Brooklyn DA ordered to testify in wrongful conviction suit claiming he overlooks misconduct
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes will have to testify in a wrongful conviction suit claiming his office overlooked and even rewarded misconduct by prosecutors.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Levy ruled last week that Hynes must testify in the suit filed by Jabbar Collins, report the New York Times and Pro Publica. Collins had been convicted for murdering a rabbi, but he was freed from prison in 2010 after a key witness asserted that a prosecutor threatened him with jail if he didn’t testify against Collins.
According to Pro Publica, Collins’ suit claims that Hynes has a tacit policy of overlooking misconduct, resulting in coerced false testimony, the withholding of exculpatory evidence, and cover-ups. Lawyers for the city say misconduct was not condoned and the suit is an attempt to humiliate Hynes.
The deposition will take place in August, just weeks before Hynes’ primary race.
Prior coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Five confessions taken by NY cop have similarities; suspects say ‘You got it right; I was there’ “
ABAJournal.com: “Ex-Inmate Sues 7 Lawyers in Brooklyn DA’s Office, Says He Was Framed in Rabbi’s Murder”
