Westchester DA probes case that wrongfully sent man to prison

Westchester District Attorney Janet DeFiore is seeking an independent inquiry into the wrongful murder conviction of a Peekskill man. Jeffrey Deskovic spent 16 years in prison after being convicted of

News 12 Staff

Nov 9, 2006, 11:25 PM

Updated 6,548 days ago

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Westchester District Attorney Janet DeFiore is seeking an independent inquiry into the wrongful murder conviction of a Peekskill man.
Jeffrey Deskovic spent 16 years in prison after being convicted of murdering Angela Correa, a Peekskill High School classmate in 1990. Deskovic says police forced his confession at that time. He was freed in September after DNA evidence cleared him of the crime and another inmate confessed. Just last week, Deskovic?s name was officially cleared of the murder charge.
DeFiore is putting together a four-member panel to review the circumstances that led to Deskovic?s conviction. The panel consists of two former judges, a former Staten Island district attorney and a Manhattan legal aid lawyer. DeFiore says she hopes something can be learned from the case.
Deskovic says he wants reform in the justice system and wants criminal charges against those who were responsible for his incarceration. DeFiore says the purpose of the investigation is to focus on the facts, but says she will look into the panel?s findings. Deskovic says he hopes the justice system that worked against him will be fair in this investigation.
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