Exonorees, rape survivors, attorneys debate eye witness ID procedures
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Exonorees, rape survivors, attorneys debate eye witness ID procedures

Date: February 24, 2014
By: Christina Turner
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Missouri legislators heard conflicting views from an exonerated killer and a rape survivor about criminal eye witness identification standards.Christina Santiago was there when the Senate Judiciary Committee heard dramatic testimony.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:

Actuality:  JZ1.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "I was put in prison for 16 years. That means their killer was left on the street. That's not acceptable when other people could possibly be victimized."

That's Joshua Kezer. He was recently exonerated of murder by an appeals court.

Kezer supports a bill imposing additional standards on the use of eyewitness identification in criminal cases.

Kim Case is a gang-rape survivor.

Actuality:  KCASE1.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "I was choked to unconsciousness more times than I can remember...I was beaten and gagged and brutalized."

Case said she correctly identified her attackers and the bill's proposed changes would make it harder to process cases like hers.

The Senate Judiciary Committee took no immediate action on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Santiago.

Intro: 
Missouri lawmakers heard conflicting views from an exonerated killer's father and a prosecuting attorney about criminal eyewitness identification standards.
RunTime:  0:45
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Ryan Ferguson was exonerated for murder.

His father Bill Ferguson said the case's key witness was manipulated to admit to the murder of Columbia Tribune sports editor Kent Heithold.

Actuality:  BFERG1.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "Obviously, the system cannot correct itself. It's out of control."

Ferguson supports a bill imposing stricter standards on eyewitness accounts used in criminal cases.

Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Sokoloff said the bill's language does not allow for technological improvements.

Actuality:  SSOK1.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "We do not believe that it is benefical to establish rigid codification standards where those standards are constantly evolving."

The Senate committee took no immediate action on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Santiago.