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"If there had been one less piece of evidence, Kevin Cooper would today be out on the streets. In (our) mind, (prosecutors) had barely enough evidence."
The blond hair at the crime scene was never tested or compared to other potential killers. Brown hair was also found and not tested. Forensic experts said a hatchet, knife and ice pick killed or wounded the four victims within minutes of each other, so multiple assailants were involved.
Prosecutors claimed Cooper killed the Ryens to steal their car and money. Yet, outside their home, the keys were in the ignition, and a substantial amount of money and other valuables were found in the home untouched.
Unknown to the defense, samples of Cooper's blood and saliva were secretly given the prosecution's technicians for 24 hours with no court order. At trial, it was claimed they were at the crime scene and matched Cooper's DNA. Clearly they were planted.
UPI reporter Kristina Rebelo-Anderson, who covered the trial, said in sworn deposition that a former confidential police informant, Albert Anthony Ruiz, told her that he and others were instructed by sheriff's deputies and DEA agents to plant evidence to convict Cooper. She added that the killings "were a hit on the wrong family," intended against a cocaine trafficking ring involving local police. Ruiz also told US Justice Department officials that Cooper was an innocent scapegoat.
None of this came out at trial. Instead falsified evidence was presented in a racist witch-hunt climate, including graffiti around the court house demanding "Kevin Cooper Must Be Hanged," and "Hang the n-word!" Not sequestered, jurors saw it, including racist media accounts, that, of course, biased them to convict or face a public backlash, including from family and friends.
With it all, jurors barely convicted, six later writing Governor Schwarznegger to halt his execution because of "too many unanswered questions," and if they knew then what they believe now, they never would have convicted, let alone impose the death penalty.
At the same time, full page ads in major California newspapers and The New York Times asked, "Does California have the wrong man?" Hundreds of people signed them, including dozens of California legislators; nine members of the European parliament; six labor leaders; members of the clergy; Jesse Jackson; various celebrities; other prominent figures; and former Illinois Governor George Ryan who declared a moratorium on all state executions after courts found 13 death row inmates innocent.
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