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Bruce Lisker: Is He Innocent?

By Jeralyn, Section Innocence Cases
Posted on Sat May 21, 2005 at 10:28:13 AM EST
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Update 5/24: 5 of the jurors who convicted Bruce Lisker now say they would not have convicted him had they known about the possible involvement of a second person:

"I feel that I made a mistake," juror Linda R. Kelly, a retiree living in San Diego County, told the Los Angeles Times for an article published Tuesday. "Hopefully, he will get a new trial and he can have the rest of his life."

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original post: 5/21/05

22 years ago, a teenager named Bruce Lisker called 911 screaming:

It was 11:26 a.m. on March 10, 1983. "My mom — she's been stabbed!" Bruce Lisker cried into the phone. "She's been stabbed.

Later, when the officers arrived,

"Do you believe in God?" a tearful Lisker asked one of the officers. "Will you pray for my mother?"

Lisker was convicted and has been in jail ever since. But the now-retired prosecutor who put him there found he couldn't sleep at night and began reinvestigating the case. Obsessively. And now, he's not sure. Many now believe the killer was someone named Michael Ryan Jr., who later committed suicide.

This is a fascinating, very long and as the Times calls it, "haunting" article of a case of possible innocence. It's 15 online pages and will appear in tomorrow's LA Times Magazine section.

If you're looking for a good read today, this is it. Then go check out Lisker's website, Free Bruce.

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    Bruce Lisker: Is He Innocent? | 4 comments (4 topical)
    Re: Bruce Lisker: Is He Innocent? (none / 0) (#1)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:16 PM EST
    I had an retired Homicide Detective tell me that they actually had some people who would confess to almost any crime that had been in the media. He said that was why they tried to keep at least some of the facts confidential, to let them cross check the story.

    Re: Bruce Lisker: Is He Innocent? (none / 0) (#2)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:16 PM EST
    many are just that Innocent but what can anyone say? the system is a conspiracy of evil people in high places. this system is not working for you but working for the few and totally/ non justice system, it is as one guy said 2000 years ago, full of rats that want you dead, is bin laden right? and who is he really working for? by the way gods come and gods go, but its the same with all ideals. Lisker was a easy target for the low life cops\non justice system who only want anyone in prison for any reason and the cops will help with that and care nothing about innocent or being guilty, evidence is also a joke in this dead system about to fall apart and murder millions with its down fall. is bin laden right? that is the real question you must ask.

    Re: Bruce Lisker: Is He Innocent? (none / 0) (#3)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:16 PM EST
    Jim: Like that guy in Indiana who confessed to killing 10 year-old Katie Collman, "Jackson County Prosecutor Stephen Pierson said investigators had discredited the confession by Charles Hickman, 21, and all charges against him in the girl's death were dropped."

    Re: Bruce Lisker: Is He Innocent? (none / 0) (#4)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:16 PM EST
    Kitt - You just have to wonder about the psychology behind some fales confessions? What is it? Self hatred? Desire for punishment for unknown sins?

    Bruce Lisker: Is He Innocent? | 4 comments (4 topical)