Three False Convictions, Many Lessons: The Psychopathology of Unjust Prosecutions - Softcover

Anderson, David C.; Scott, Nigel P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1909976350 ISBN 13: 9781909976351

Publisher: Waterside Press, 2016

Synopsis

A new perspective on the roles of psychopathology, confirmation bias, false confessions, the media and internet (amongst other causes) of unjust accusations. Putting lack of empathy at the fore in terms of police, prosecutors and others, it considers a wide range of other psychopathological aspects of miscarriages of justice. 

By looking at three high profile cases, those of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito (Italy), Stefan Kiszko (UK) and Darlie Routier (USA) — the authors show that motive forces are a mind-set in which psychopathy (what they term ‘constitutional negative empathy’) may be present and the need to reinforce existing supposition or lose face plays a part.

Darlie Routier is still on Death Row in Texas despite overwhelming evidence that her conviction for killing her own child is false, whilst Knox, Sollecito and Kiszko have been vindicated by the highest judicial authorities and telling evidence. The authors show how and why unfounded rumours still persist in the Knox/Sollecito case and advance a new theory that the Routier killings were the work of a notorious serial killer.

About this title

About the Author

David Anderson is a former Professor of Medicine in Manchester and Hong Kong. He first awoke to miscarriages of justice in connection with a former patient of his, Stefan Kiszko, who in 1976 was wrongly convicted of the murder of Lesley Molseed. Nigel Scott is a writer and researcher who has written extensively (with David Anderson) on the Knox/Sollecito case in particular.

Edition details

• Publisher: Waterside Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1909976350
• ISBN 13: 9781909976351
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280