In a startling turn of events, Darien Harris, a Chicago man who was convicted of murder largely based on the testimony of a legally blind eyewitness, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and its police department. Harris was convicted in 2014 for a fatal shooting at a South Side gas station in 2011 and was serving a 76-year prison sentence. However, after 12 years behind bars, Harris was freed in December when The Exoneration Project uncovered that the key eyewitness had advanced glaucoma and had lied about his eyesight issues. Harris, now 30, alleges in his lawsuit that police fabricated evidence and coerced witnesses into making false statements, severely impacting his life even after his release.
Harris, who was only 18 when he was arrested, continues to face significant challenges in rebuilding his life, expressing that he feels lost and deprived of opportunities due to his wrongful conviction. Despite being freed, he struggles with financial instability and the stigma of being treated like a felon, making it difficult to find employment or pursue education. His trial attorney had questioned the eyewitness about his vision, which he claimed was not a problem, despite medical records showing he was legally blind years before the incident. The city’s Law Department has yet to comment on the lawsuit, leaving Harris seeking justice and a sense of normalcy after his harrowing experience.
