Wrongly Convicted Database

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Miguel Castillo

Years Imprisoned:	11.5
Charge:	Murder
Sentence:	48 yrs
Year Convicted:	1991
Year Cleared:	2001
Location of Trial:	Illinois
Result:	Pardoned
Summary of Case:	Wrongly convicted of a 1988 murder based on his alleged false confession to an English speaking Chicago policeman, while Castillo spoke Spanish. There was no tape or signed confession and Castillo denied confessing to the murder. After 11-1/2 years imprisonment, Castillo was released after it was proven by medical experts that the murder occurred between May 7 and May 9, 1988, and Castillo was in the Cook County Jail from March 23 to May 11, 1988, so he couldn't be guilty. Was awarded $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit against the City of Chicago and three policemen. Pardoned by IL Gov George Ryan on January 8, 2003.
Conviction Caused By:	False confession allegedly made by the Spanish speaking Castillo to an English speaking policeman, but there was no tape or signed evidence of the confession that Castillo denied making.
Innocence Proved By:	Alibi established that Castillo was in the Cook County Jail on the day the murder occurred.
Defendant Aided By:
Compensation Awarded:	$1.2 million
Was Perpetrator Found?
Age When Imprisoned:	39
Age When Released:	49
Information Source 1:	Northwestern School of Law Center on Wrongful Convictions database
Information Location 1:	http://www.law.northwestern.edu/depts/clinic/wrongful/exonerations/Castillo.htm
Information Source 2:	Wrongly convicted man gets $1.2 million, Chicago AP, San Diego Union-Tribune, April 1, 2004
Information Location 2:
Information Source 3:
Information Location 3:
Information Source 4:	Chicago Tribune, January 19, 2001
Information Location 4:
Information Source 5:
Information Location 5:
Ethnicity/Skin:	Hispanic
Book About Case:
Book Information:
Book About Case (2):
Book Information (2):
Movie About Case:
Comments About Case:	Falsely confessed

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Miguel Castillo

Years Imprisoned:

11.5

Charge:

Murder

Sentence:

48 yrs

Year Convicted:

1991

Year Cleared:

2001

Location of Trial:

Illinois

Result:

Pardoned

Summary of Case:

Conviction Caused By:

False confession allegedly made by the Spanish speaking Castillo to an English speaking policeman, but there was no tape or signed evidence of the confession that Castillo denied making.

Innocence Proved By:

Alibi established that Castillo was in the Cook County Jail on the day the murder occurred.

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

$1.2 million

Was Perpetrator Found?

Age When Imprisoned:

39

Age When Released:

49

Information Source 1:

Northwestern School of Law Center on Wrongful Convictions database

Information Location 1:

http://www.law.northwestern.edu/depts/clinic/wrongful/exonerations/Castillo.htm

Information Source 2:

Wrongly convicted man gets $1.2 million, Chicago AP, San Diego Union-Tribune, April 1, 2004

Information Location 2:

Information Source 3:

Information Location 3:

Information Source 4:

Chicago Tribune, January 19, 2001

Information Location 4:

Information Source 5:

Information Location 5:

Ethnicity/Skin:

Hispanic

Book About Case:

Book Information:

Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case:

Falsely confessed

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