A man from Chicago, who was found guilty of murder with the help of testimony from a legally blind eyewitness, has filed a lawsuit against the city and the police department.
In 2014, Darien Harris was found guilty and convicted for his involvement in a fatal shooting at a gas station on the South Side. He had already served 12 years of a 76-year prison sentence when he was released in December. The Exoneration Project played a crucial role in proving that the eyewitness, who had testified against Harris, had advanced glaucoma and had lied about his vision problems. It was only at the age of 30 that Harris finally regained his freedom.
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“I don’t receive any financial assistance, and I’m still being treated like a felon, which makes it difficult for me to find a good job,” he expressed. “Getting into school has also been a challenge for me. I’ve been feeling completely lost. It’s as if a part of me has been taken away, and it’s proving to be incredibly difficult to reclaim that sense of self.”
When Harris was arrested, he was only 18 years old and still a high school senior. The eyewitness, who had limited vision, was able to identify Harris in a police lineup and later in court. According to the eyewitness’s testimony, he was riding his motorized scooter near the gas station when he heard gunshots and observed someone aiming a handgun. He even mentioned that the shooter accidentally bumped into him during the incident.
During Harris’ trial, his attorney questioned the witness about the impact of his diabetes on his vision. Although the witness admitted that his diabetes did affect his vision, he denied having any vision problems. However, court records revealed that the man had been declared legally blind by his doctor nine years prior to the incident.
According to a gas station attendant who testified, it was confirmed that Harris was not the shooter.
Since 2009, the Exoneration Project has successfully cleared over 200 individuals of wrongful convictions. In 2023, they were able to exonerate a dozen people in Cook County, Chicago.
