Why witnesses get it wrong, Scott Fraser
TEDxUSC
https://www.ted.com/talks/scott_fraser_why_eyewitnesses_get_it_wrong?subtitle=enttps://www.ted.c
om/talks/scott_fraser_why_eyewitnesses_get_it_wrong?subtitle=en
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How long did it take police to identify a suspect in the man’s homicide (murder)?
Who confirmed the identity of the suspect?
Was the weapon or vehicle ever found? Was the driver of the vehicle ever found?
What was Carrillo’s alibi? Why did police not consider this alibi to be valid?
As of the making of this video (2012), how many convictions have the Innocence Project helped
to overturn? How were these cases overturned (i.e., how were the people exonerated [found
innocent])? Over ¾ of the cases that resulted in an exoneration originally relied on what form of
evidence?
6. What does it mean when we say, ‘The brain abhors a vacuum’? How does this potentially effect
witness testimony?
7. What are ‘reconstructed memories’?
8. Do you think the witnesses had adequate lighting to identify the shooter? Would they have had
adequate color vision given the light? Why is color vision necessary in positively identifying a
person?
9. Why did the judge grant permission for a retrial of Carrillo? Did the prosecution push for a
retrial?
10. What is the presenter’s recommendation for how to improve lawyer’s training?