While we are on the subject of false confessions and wrongful convictions, don't miss Daily Kos: Karma not on Ryan's side.

The Rolando Cruz case is one of the most infamous examples ever of police misconduct. We hadn't realized until Kos pointed it out the original prosecutor in the case, Jim Ryan, is now a candidate for Governor in Illinois. He's trailing in the polls which we agree, is his kharmic due.

Just to add a few more details about the Cruz false confession from the Northwestern University Legal Clinic:

"In his third trial in 1995 a key State's witness, Lieutenant James Montesano, recanted his earlier testimony that he was informed by Cruz's interrogators that Cruz gave a "dream statement" in which he related details of the crime only the killer could know. Montesano testified that he had actually been out of state at the time of Cruz's interrogation, so could not have been told of the alleged statement -- a confession which was neither videotaped nor even mentioned in police records. "

"Additionally, there was no other physical evidence nor any witnesses linking Cruz to the crime. After hearing the Lieutenant's recantation, DuPage County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Mehling delivered a verdict in Cruz's favor, ending the ordeal. "

"Only a year after Cruz was first incarcerated, another man, Brian Dugan, confessed to killing Nicarico after pleading guilty to raping and killing another girl and a woman. He has not been tried of the Nicarico murder, however, because prosecutors say that inconsistencies in his story make him unbelievable. "

They quote as sources:

Ken Armstrong & Christi Parsons, Half of State's Death-Penalty Cases Reversed; A Variety of Errors Found in 130 Trials, Chi. Trib., Jan. 22, 2000, at 1.

Man Jailed 12 Years is Freed in Trial for Girl's Killing; Acquittal Comes After Twice Being Convicted, Balt. Sun, Nov. 5, 1995 at 18A.