Inside the wrongful conviction of Lamar Johnson | Forensic Files

48 hours is investigating the wrongful conviction of a Missouri man you've heard part of this story before in
February Lamar Johnson was exonerated for a murder he didn't commit he had spent nearly three decades in prison
after a witness picked him out of a police lineup That witness Greg elking says he was pressured by law enforcement
Aaron Moriarty has been covering this case since 2021 and for this week's 48 Hours she spoke with elking for the
first time here's an early look at her report Why didn't what kept Lamar Johnson going during his
final days in prison was the hope that he would be set free in time to walk his youngest daughter Kiara down the aisle
at her wedding in April 2023 that dream came true [Music] we're in a St Louis courtroom a judge
set that dream in motion when he overturned Johnson's murder conviction after 28 years behind bars he was more
than a free man Lamar Johnson had been exonerated for the murder of his friend Marcus Boyd I am a free man an
exonerated man and a blessed man Johnson had been fighting to clear his name since 1995 when he was convicted
largely on the word of this man Greg Elgin had identified him as one of the shooters who took Boyd's life as he sat
on his front porch these guys they had completely dark clothing and they had masks on could you really identify these
men no I couldn't identify him yet Elkin says he was pressured by investigators to identify Lamar Johnson after he was
told Johnson was dangerous and that his own life could be in danger elkim became
the star witness at trial did it occur to you that you might have put an innocent man yes Behind Bars without a
doubt because I lied on the testimony why didn't you tell somebody why didn't you say that
nobody talks to me nobody who am I going to tell him but years later he sent this
letter to a clergyman admitting he had lied that admission in part would launch an investigation by St Louis circuit
attorney Kimberly Gardner and lead to Johnson's Freedom it's devastating for me that this man has spent 28 years in
prison for a crime he did not commit Oh Boy Aaron Murray already joins us now Aaron good morning I think it's
devastating for anybody who believes in law and Justice to hear that somebody who's wrongly convicted for 28 years and
that the person who put him there uh was pressured to do so according to him anyway well yes and I mean it's it was
eye-opening for me um it took a lot to get him to sit down because he didn't want to admit publicly
but then when he finally did the right thing last December and testified for Lamar I think he wanted to explain why
yeah um in part as as you guys don't know why he lied at 28 years and you know that
that man is innocent he's sitting behind bar how do you live with yourself with that information well and he says he had
a very difficult time but think back then he's the only eyewitness he sees his friend get shot executed really yeah
he tells the police over and over again this is his story that he didn't see a face and he tells me that today he has
no idea who those two guys were and the police doesn't say hey this we know who it is right at least that's his story
the detective deny that and that your life could be in danger but what was chilling for me is that alkene admitted
to me in the interview that he never really looked at him until he was about to point him out at trial and then he
realized that Lamar was lighter skinned than the guys he saw and that's why I said why didn't why didn't you tell
somebody and he he had been you know in the witness protection program they gave
him was he paid oh yeah he got cash um he had his outstanding warrants clears it probably is so it's not black
and white I mean literally it's just and that's what was so interesting about interviewing him but I'm still thinking
about Lamar Johnson absolutely absolutely wow all right Aaron Moriarty thank you very much you
can see Aaron's full report Lamar Johnson standing in truth on 48 hours tomorrow night at 10 9 Central right
here on CBS and Paramount plus they're going to want to tune in we'll be right back

In 1994, Lamar Johnson was arrested for the murder of his friend, Markus Boyd. Nearly 30 years later, Johnson was exonerated. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty joins "CBS Mornings" with a preview of her report.

Each weekday morning, "CBS Mornings” co-hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson bring you the latest breaking news, smart conversation and in-depth feature reporting. "CBS Mornings" airs weekdays at 7 a.m. on CBS and stream it at 8 a.m. ET on the CBS News app.

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Brief Summary

Lamar Johnson was exonerated after 28 years due to witness pressure and false testimony.

Key points

Lamar Johnson Exonerated. After nearly three decades, Lamar Johnson is exonerated for a murder he didn't commit.
Witness Admits to Lying. The key witness, Greg Elking, reveals he was pressured to identify Johnson.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I am a free man, an exonerated man, and a blessed man.

Lamar Johnson's exoneration announcement.

1:06WatchApr 28, 2023

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