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The case of Kevin Green is an exceptional one among many cases of wrongful conviction. This story best demonstrates how forensic science influences the criminal justice system profoundly. In 1979, Kevin Lee Green was convicted of attempting to kill his pregnant wife, Dianna, leaving her in a coma and resulting in the loss of their unborn child.
Maintaining his innocence, Kevin Lee Green received 15 years to a life prison sentence. His case has been brought back into the forefront through the popular true-crime podcast Crime Junkie, which delves into stories of a miscarriage of justice and wrongful convictions.
The particular episode of Crime Junkie discussing Kevin Green's case, which is subtitled "SURVIVED: Dianna D'Aiello," was aired on January 6, 2025. This particular episode explains the dreadful story of Dianna's attack, her husband Kevin Green wrongly convicted of the crime, followed by exonerated figures based on DNA, pointing to the crime of known serial killer Gerald Parker.
The podcast suggests how systemic failures can result in catastrophic losses for wrongly convicted victims, and thus, Green's story speaks greatly within the context of criminal justice reform.
The attack and wrongful conviction of Kevin Green
On September 30, 1979, Dianna Green was r*ped in her home. Kevin Green, corporal in the United States Marine Corps, reported to his place of residence; he found that his wife lay severely injured; she had received severe beatings and was subsequently left for death.
Kevin insists on his claim of innocence since he claims a suspicious man he saw running at the scene at the time; however, police arrested him, charging him with serious crimes such as attempted murder as well as ass*ult and battery with weapons.
He was found guilty by a jury in Orange County in October 1980 and was given a life term in prison. This conviction was not only going to shatter his life but also his military career since he received less than honorable discharge due to charges.
Kevin went through many difficult times during his imprisonment. He was denied parole several times due to his refusal to accept guilt for a crime he did not commit. His consistency cost him; he missed some significant family events and could not attend the funerals of loved ones.
Despite these, he remained focused on proving his innocence. Year after year, he applied for funding for DNA testing that might exonerate him but encountered many hurdles.
The breakthrough: DNA evidence
The turning point in Kevin Green's case came as forensic science and DNA technology improved. In the mid-1990s, the state of California created an offender DNA database that assisted law enforcement in matching DNA evidence from unsolved crimes to known offenders.
In 1996, serial killer Gerald Parker, known for attacking innocent people at their homes, confessed to the attack on Dianna Green and several violent crimes. His confession proved to be the only evidence that could exonerate Kevin.
On June 20, 1996, Judge Robert Fitzgerald granted Green's habeas corpus petition, declaring him factually innocent of all charges and ordering his immediate release from prison. Following the exonerations, Kevin Green received compensation from the state of California to be paid to him for the wrongful imprisonment.
Governor Gray Davis awarded him $620,000 to acknowledge the injustices faced by wrongfully convicted individuals. He had this compensation declared tax-exempt under a special bill passed by the state legislature.
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Kevin Green's case is a reminder that justice can prevail through forensic evidence. His case was covered in Crime Junkie, discussing wrongful convictions that call attention to systemic problems of the criminal justice system. Many such cases find a voice in podcasting, thus increasing awareness concerning cases like Kevin Green and emphasizing the notion that judicial mistakes create victims.
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