Ep 4. The Witness
- March 22, 2017
The Witness is the fourth episode of the first season of TIME: The Kalief Browder Story. This episode delves into the importance of eyewitness testimony in the criminal justice system and how it can be flawed and manipulated.
The episode features several interviews and court footage that highlight how eyewitness testimony can often lack credibility. Specifically, it focuses on witness testimony that falsely identified Kalief Browder as the perpetrator of a crime he did not commit. The witnesses, who were shown a photo of Kalief by the police, falsely identified him as the man who stole a backpack.
The episode also explores how prosecutors rely heavily on witness testimony to secure convictions, even when that testimony is flimsy or unreliable. It shows how the prosecutor in Kalief's case relied on the witness testimony to argue that Kalief was guilty, despite a lack of physical evidence or any other indication that Kalief had committed the crime.
The Witness also examines how witness testimony can be manipulated by law enforcement officials. The episode features an interview with a man who was pressured by police to implicate Kalief in the backpack theft. The man is still haunted by his decision to lie, and he admits that he was motivated by a desire to avoid prosecution himself.
Overall, The Witness is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that highlights the flaws in the criminal justice system's reliance on eyewitness testimony. It raises important questions about the accuracy and reliability of witness testimony and the ways in which it can be manipulated and misused by those in power. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in criminal justice reform and the pursuit of justice for all.
