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Framed by Police? 23 Years in Prison for Murder
17 Feb
Summary
- Police allegedly pressured witnesses to lie or embellish statements.
- CCTV evidence and phone records suggest a buried alibi.
- Key prosecution witness testimony contradicted by evidence.
Omar Benguit has spent 23 years in prison for the 2002 murder of Jong-Ok Shin, a case now subject to new scrutiny. BBC Panorama's investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting police may have framed Benguit.
The primary prosecution witness's testimony, crucial to Benguit's conviction in his third trial in 2005, is now reportedly contradicted by CCTV footage. Phone records also suggest Benguit had an alibi that police allegedly buried.
Furthermore, 13 witnesses have told the BBC that police pressured them to embellish statements or lie in court. Two additional witnesses claim they lied under police pressure, and four others refused similar pressure. This undermines the testimony of all key prosecution witnesses.
Despite the absence of forensic evidence, police built their case around a drug addict's account. This witness, referred to as BB, had a history of false allegations and changed her story multiple times. Police reportedly ignored CCTV footage that discredited her claims about her whereabouts on the night of the murder.
Retired detective Brian Murphy has called for an investigation into Dorset Police's handling of the case, stating Benguit's conviction is not safe. Benguit's barrister suggests that witness coercion amounts to manufacturing evidence and perverting the course of justice.
More recently, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is reviewing Benguit's case following the discovery of grainy CCTV footage potentially showing him using a phone box after the murder. This, combined with phone records to his dealer at the same time, suggests an alibi contradicting the crack house evidence. Police were allegedly aware of this alibi but did not investigate it properly.
There is also a potential link to Danilo Restivo, who was suspected of other murders and lived near the crime scene. Italian police had warned Dorset Police about him, but he was not thoroughly investigated. He was later convicted of two other murders.
Omar Benguit, now clean of drugs, maintains his innocence and refuses to confess to a crime he did not commit, even to gain release. Dorset Police stated the case has undergone reviews and appeals, and that they would investigate if directed by authorities.
