Co-defendant in notorious "Central Park Five" rape case to be exonerated
CBSDec 27, 2022
NYC 'Central Park Five' Co-Defendant Exonerated After 3 Decades
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Image copyright: The New York Times
The Facts
On Mon., Steven Lopez, a co-defendant in the infamous "Central Park Five" case, had his conviction overturned. Arrested in 1989, he spent three years in jail after accepting a deal pleading guilty to robbery to avoid rape charges.
He was among six people accused of involvement in the rape and assault of Trisha Meili. The other five served up to 13 years in jail and were exonerated in 2002 after Matias Reyes, a serial rapist, was linked to the attack.
The Spin
Left narrative
The Central Park Five case is another example of how the US legal system operates, exposing how racial hysteria damages the pursuit of justice. False accusations against Black and Latino young men remain a systemic problem. This system must be reformed.
Right narrative
It doesn't make sense to consider the Central Park Five innocent of all charges just because Reyes confessed he attacked Meili. They were part of a 30-person criminal gang that carried out assaults, robberies, and other crimes against eight other victims in Central Park.
