Phoenix approves $600K settlement of lawsuit brought by exonerated woman
Frances Salazar, 61, spent 22 months in prison. Her conviction hinged on the testimony of a Phoenix police officer whose credibility was in question. The Phoenix City Council has approved a $600,000 settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by Frances Salazar, who was exonerated after spending 22 months in prison after being convicted in 2016. Her conviction was based on the testimony of the Phoenix police officer, Anthony Armour, who claimed Salazar admitted to drug possession and claimed she did not. Prior to the trial, Armour had been subject of an internal Phoenix police investigation and found to have lied in connection with the arrest of another woman. Despite this, prosecutors did not directly inform Salazar's defense team about Armour's conduct, which federal law requires prosecutors to disclose evidence that negatively impacts the credibility of law enforcement witnesses. Salazar filed a civil suit against Phoenix in 2019, alleging that her rights to due process had been breached. The case was settled out of court earlier this year.
게시됨 : 한 달 전 ~에 의해 Miguel Torres, Arizona Republic ~에 Politics
The Phoenix City Council approved a $600,000 settlement of a federal lawsuit filed by a woman who was exonerated after the police officer who arrested her was found to have lied in another case.
Frances Salazar, 61, spent 22 months in prison after she was convicted in 2016. Her conviction hinged on the testimony of the Phoenix police officer who arrested her, Anthony Armour.
Armour claimed Salazar admitted to drug possession, and she held that she did not. No other evidence was presented in the case even though another witness claimed ownership of the drugs, court records showed.
Before Salazar's case went to trial, Armour had been the subject of an internal Phoenix police investigation and found to have lied in connection with the arrest of another woman.
Despite learning about this internal investigation, prosecutors did not directly inform Salazar's defense team about Armour's conduct, according to court records.
Federal law demands prosecutors disclose to defense lawyers any evidence that impacts the credibility of law enforcement witnesses.
In 2018, an appellate court judge vacated Salazar's conviction and exonerated her.
Salazar filed a civil suit against Phoenix in 2019. That year, Armour retired.
She alleged that her rights to due process had been breached.
The case was settled out of court earlier this year.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix approves $600k settlement of case brought by exonerated woman
주제: Lawsuits