Chicago Man's Murder Conviction Overturned Due to Blind Eyewitness Testimony

In a shocking turn of events, the murder conviction of Darien Harris, a Chicago man who has spent the past 12 years behind bars, has been overturned after doubts were raised about the credibility of a key witness who was legally blind. Harris, who was 18 years old at the time of the 2011 shooting that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Rondell Moore and the serious injury of another individual, has consistently maintained his innocence.

The Exoneration Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions, expressed their satisfaction with the judge's decision to vacate Harris' conviction. "Mr. Harris has spent 12 years wrongfully imprisoned, having been arrested when he was just 18. His conviction was secured almost solely through the testimony of a blind eyewitness, who the court repeatedly referred to as credible when wrongfully convicting Mr. Harris," they stated. The organization has promised to continue fighting for Harris' freedom.

According to the Exoneration Project, the witness in question was suffering from advanced glaucoma at the time of the crime and had severely limited visibility. Surveillance video footage from the scene revealed that the witness was much farther away from the incident than he initially claimed to be. This discrepancy raises doubts about the accuracy and reliability of his testimony.

Harris' family and legal team had previously urged Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to review the case, arguing that the witness had failed to disclose his visual impairment. It appears that their efforts to shed light on this crucial information were finally successful, leading to the reevaluation of Harris' conviction.

The shooting took place at a local gas station, where Moore had pulled in to inspect his vehicle. He was shot three times and fled the scene, ultimately succumbing to his injuries in a nearby parking lot. Another individual, a local mechanic who was assisting Moore, was also injured during the incident.

The Exoneration Project also raised concerns about potential police misconduct during Harris' case. They highlighted the fact that the alleged getaway driver for the shooting recanted his identification of Harris and accused the police of coercing him into making a false statement. Another witness claimed that officers had attempted to manipulate her identification of Harris as well.

Despite the overturned conviction, Harris will not be released pending a new trial due to the seriousness of the crime. The judge in the case, Diana Kenworthy, emphasized the need to start afresh and ensure a fair trial for all parties involved. A new trial date has yet to be scheduled, leaving Harris and his supporters anxiously awaiting the opportunity to prove his innocence once and for all.