Convicting the Innocent
DNA Exonerations Database

Paul Terry

First Name Paul
Last NameTerry
Year of Conviction1977
Year of Exoneration2003
State of ConvictionIllinois
Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty PleaTrial
Type of CrimeRape and Murder
Death SentenceNo
Gender of ExonereeMale
Race of exonereeBlack
JuvenileYes
Description / Quotes from Testimony Concerning Defense

● Defense argued mistaken witness identification.

Did the defendant testify at trial?No
Types of evidence at trial
  • Eyewitness
  • Informant
Identity of eyewitness
  • Cross Racial Identification
  • Non-victim
Lineup Procedures
  • Composite drawing
  • Lineup
Suggestive Procedures

No

Unreliable Identification?

Yes ● Initial nonidentification ● Discrepancies in description – eyebrows, skin color, nose shape, glasses, hair, age

Quotes from testimony #2

See Evans on admittedly inaccurate composite prepared

Jailhouse informant, Co-defendant, Incentivized WitnessIW
Examples of Non-Public or Corroborated Facts and Inconsistencies● See Michael Evans.
Highest level reachedAppeal
Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction
  • Jackson Claim
  • Jury Instructions
  • Prosecutorial Misconduct
Harmless Error Rulings
  • HE
Citations to judicial opinions

People v. Evans, 399 N.E.2d 1333 (Ill. App. 1 Dist. 1979)