BIG SACRIFICES: A Consideration of Flawed Forensics Used to Convict Diane Downs

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November 14, 2013 marks the second in our “Crimes of the Century” series on flawed forensics. Spotlighted was the high profile murder and attempted murder conviction of Diane Downs, portrayed by the late Farrah Fawcett in the movie “Small Sacrifices”.

Diane Downs was convicted in 1984 of killing her 6 year old daughter and attempting to kill her 3 year old son and 8 year old daughter to woo a lover who reportedly did not want children. However, life appears to have imitated art for Diane in that the prosecutor’s case against her seems almost as fictionalized as the corresponding book and referenced Farrah Fawcett movie.

Tracking COC listeners through the Diane Downs case facts and circumstances is Diane’s brother, Mr. James Frederickson,and COC’s own Dr. Andrew D. Jackson. Does their presentation leave you with reasonable doubt that Diane killed one and attempted to kill two of her children?

The Perils of Pro-Prosecution Judges

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For their November 7, 2013 broadcast, your “Crimes of the Century” co-hosts considered the antics of former Texas state judge Elizabeth E. Coker who was forced to resign after being caught texting instructions from the bench to an Assistant District Attorney who was assisting in the prosecution of a case in Coker's court.

Joined by Kenneth Kendrick, Drum Major’s for Truth Program Director, and former deputy sheriff Mark Lipton, the COC team addressed multiple topics from the importance of protecting judicial whistleblowers; the need for U.S. judges to bring more industry diversity to the bench; and the hypocrisy of pressuring Coker off the bench when pro-prosecution bias is all too common among criminal court judges and clearly favored among private prison industry fat cats as well as their politician supporters.