You are reading

Queens District Attorney Has Reopened 10 Cases of Possible Wrongful Conviction

District Attorney Melinda Katz (Katz for DA)

May 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin

The Queens District Attorney’s office, which opened a unit to investigate potential wrongful convictions in January, announced yesterday that it has reopened 10 such cases.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz established the Conviction Integrity Unit when she took office on January 1 — making good on one of her earliest campaign promises.

Staff members are now actively re-investigating the 10 cases, Katz said. They are performing a ground-up reevaluation of each case, interviewing new witnesses and using cutting-edge DNA technology and forensic testing where possible.

The unit — headed by Bryce Benjet of the Innocence Project — will make recommendations for exoneration if someone is found to be wrongfully convicted.

In just four months, 46 cases have been submitted to the Conviction Integrity Unit, Katz said. Ten of those cases are the ones being re-investigated, while the others have been withdrawn from further consideration or have been referred to other jurisdictions or bureaus. Six have been closed — but the office hasn’t revealed the decision made in those cases.

“No one is perfect. No system is without flaws. And we know, without a doubt, that mistakes can happen, resulting in a miscarriage of justice,” District Attorney Katz said. “It is vitally important to have a Unit that is dedicated to reviewing credible cases and empowered to make recommendations on anyone who should be exonerated if found to be wrongfully convicted.”

Katz announced that she has recently appointed Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexis Celestin, a prosecutor last with the Westchester DA’s Office, to the team and that she will add more attorneys and investigators to the unit in the coming months.

“Our entire criminal justice system is built on the belief that one is innocent until proven guilty,” Katz said. “But if someone is wrongfully convicted that undermines the faith we all have in our criminal justice system.”

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Suspect sought in Kew Gardens jewel heist at private residence near Forest Park: NYPD

Police from the 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill are looking for a bearded burglar who was captured on video surveillance pulling off a jewel heist at a Kew Gardens home four blocks east of Forest Park late last month.

The suspect was seen walking on 84th Street near 118th Street at around 4:45 a.m. when he unlawfully entered a private residence through a rear door. Once inside, the suspect went into a bedroom and removed a black box, which contained jewelry valued at approximately $1,950, police said. The stranger left the home and ran off southbound on 118th Street toward Bessemer Street in Richmond Hill. There were no injuries reported after the jewel heist.

Community gathers in Kew Gardens Hills to remember 9/11 with prayer, reflection and unity

Sep. 16, 2025 By Robert Pearl

As the nation marked the 24th anniversary of Sept. 11, the Jewish community of Kew Gardens Hills came together on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills for a moving memorial service that honored the lives lost and the resilience of New Yorkers. Hosted by Zev Brenner of the podcast “Talkline with Zev Brenner,” the solemn evening blended prayer, music and heartfelt words from civic leaders and neighbors.

With US Open done, Kantu serves up winning brunch in Forest Hills

Sep. 9, 2025 By Claude Solnik

Brunch, or at least breakfast, is a fairly common offering across New York City restaurants. And these morning meals often follow basic rules and menus with fairly similar offerings such as eggs, traditional omelets and maybe a Mimosa. When it comes to good food and, in particular, brunches that depart from the usual, Kantu really can do.