Author Archives: cb107010

I found the radio segment on the  Central Park Five extremely interesting.  When asked why these 5 were singled out, the producers stated that they were the most vulnerable as they were not involved in any interactions before with the law and were unaware of the workings of the system.  They did not know how to handle the interrogators, and were eager to please the police in order to go home.  They believed that, if anything, they would merely just be witnesses to a crime.  Each had implicated the other in the crime, and the boys never imagined their own words would be used against them.  It was also sad to hear Raymond Santana describe how after he was released from jail, he fell on hard times as there was no transitional programs for him to get acclimated to living life outside of prison.

Christina

Absence of Malice displays reporter Megan Carter as a journalist struggling through various predicaments in which she fights to advance her own career, while unfortunately, hurting people and making unethical decisions along the way.

One error that she made was that she did not try hard enough to make Mike Gallagher aware that she was going to release a report stating that he was under investigation.  She claims to have called once, but that no one picked up the phone.  This was not good enough.  She should have repeatedly called, left messages, and if anything, she should have left a copy of the report under his doorstep.  A reporter must always persist in trying to get in contact with the private individual they are releasing the report about in order to enable that individual to have a chance to release a comment.  The private individual can sue the reporter merely if he or she proves the reporter printed a falsehood.

The most outrageous act Megan committed was writing Theresa Perrone’s name in the article when claiming that she had an abortion and Mike was there with her and so thus he could not have possibly committed the murder. Megan was so focused on releasing Mike from being attached to the murder that she neglected her own morals and went against Theresa.  Theresa specifically told Megan that she did not want her name in that article for fear of how her family and coworkers would react.  However, Megan completely ignored Theresa’s plea and heartlessly published the article.  Theresa committed suicide and Megan became ridden with guilt.

It was also shocking how she developed a relationship with Mike.  This distracted her and caused her to lose control over her own investigation of the case, as she began falling in love with the man she was supposed to be investigating.

Christina

I was extremely moved by the Central Park Five Documentary.  It was incredibly sad to listen to the five men describe how they felt pressured and coerced by the police into making up stories about what had occurred merely to be able to go home.  By giving stories, the boys thought they would only be witnesses to the crime.

After spending years in jail and having their youth stolen from them, the men still struggled even after they were set free.  They had difficulty finding jobs and also had to register as sex offenders.  It was sad to see Raymond Santana describe how he felt that he was not contributing to the support of his household and so he began selling drugs and was eventually put back in jail and tried as a 2^nd offender.  Raymond also stated that at his age of 36, he dreamed of being married and owning a home.  Korey Wise said that no amount of money now could ever replace those years of suffering.

The film depicts that the boys were completely innocent in this case.  The boys were part of a group of about 25 boys who were roaming through Central Park that night.  One of the five stated the only crime he committed that night was jumping over a train turnstile.  The men described how they witnessed other boys creating mischief throughout the park, such as grabbing a couple on a bike and beating up a homeless man.  Also displayed in the film was a time map, in which at the time of the attack on the jogger, the group of boys were spotted to have been “wilding” in a completely separate area of the park. Thus, they could not have been involved in the crime.

I was completely shocked at how the true assailant, Matias Reyes, was able to get away with such a heinous crime when he had actually committed another assault in the park just days earlier.  His DNA was on file, but somehow never tested to the DNA taken from the jogger case.

The movie was very powerful, and hopefully will create awareness about the pain that can be inflicted on people through wrongful convictions.

Christina